Letter From Our President & CEO – October 10th, 2022
The older I get the faster the pages on my calendar fly by. I cannot believe October is here already. I like fall. I like the crisp air. I like that it doesn’t get really hot. I like that it doesn’t get really cold. I like that the pollen that is present in the spring isn’t present in the fall. I could go on and on but you get the picture. I also like fall because it is the start of the 4th quarter. In football all the players always hold up four fingers at the end of the third quarter. The miler picks up the pace when he or she starts the fourth lap. Most retailers do the majority of their business in the fourth quarter. We are blessed with more donors during the fourth quarter of the year. People who support our mission and step up to make sure our neighbors in need are taken care of. Yes, I like autumn.
Later today (October 4th) I will be driving to Little Rock for a retirement celebration for my peer Rhonda Sanders of the Arkansas Food Bank. Since my first day in this role, Rhonda has been a mainstay in my development. She has always been ready with a response to a question, to listen to me vent and to offer suggestions of how we can serve our neighbors better. I wish her luck in the next chapter of her life, but will miss her.
On October 3rd, my friend Bill Adams and I were invited to appear on KNWA’s Good Day NWA to promote an Octoberfest event that happened in Lowell on October 8. For the first time in my life I wore Lederhosen. However, it was not the first time I have appeared in costume to promote a Food Bank event. For the past three years, you could find me in a turkey costume at the Walmart store on Pleasant Grove in Rogers at the 40/29 Turkey Drive. This November 18th I plan to be there again, with some improvements to the Food Bank turkey suit. Please stop by to say hello to me, the turkey, and the on-air personalities of 40-29 News.
I don't dress up for this event, but I would like to call your attention to KFSM’s “GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE” promotion partnering with Harp’s stores and Cargill. It runs from October 10 through October 23. You’re invited to shop your area Harps’ stores and pick up a pre-bagged donation for the Food Bank.
November 5 is Homecoming at the U of A. We are still working on the details, but our friends at Unilever are helping to coordinate a combination food drive and monetary donation (through a QR code) drive. Please look for more details to come.
Finally, in just a few days we will host our Jewels of Giving Gala. As you all know we have had to suspend it for the past couple of years. On October 15 we will gather for the first time since November 2019. Thanks to all the sponsors and everyone planning on attending for helping us raise money to support our neighbors. Thanks for all you do. Because of you someone will eat today
Celebrity Bartending Tip-Off Event a Huge Success!
On Thursday, September 15th we held the first ever Celebrity Bartending Tip-Off event at the J.B Hunt Tower Terrace in Rogers. Five local celebrities including Emi Cardarelli (Unilever), Megan Crozier (Sam’s Club), Jerome Drolet (KraftHeinz), Tom McDonald (Bayer), and Patrick Shanks (Sam’s Club) along with Nashville recording artist Blane Howard served up drinks and smiles while competing to see who could raise the most tips. Around 250 people attended the ticketed event and enjoyed drinks, appetizers, networking, and a lot of fun while raising some money for the Food Bank. The event raised over $22,000, and thanks to a match from the Alice L. Walton Foundation, that total was doubled for a total of over $44,000! A huge thank you to all that attended, that volunteered their time to bartend, and our sponsors. We appreciate your continued support of our organization and those we serve!
Some photos courtesy of our friends at 3W Magazine.
Cargill Makes Large Donation to Help Fight Food Insecurity in NWA
Cargill Continues its Support for Food Insecurity with $600,000 Donation to the New Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
The company’s donation will expand the food bank’s protein distribution capacity and help the organization keep up with rising demand in the region
SPRINGDALE, AR – September 14, 2022 – Cargill is proud to announce that the company has made a $600,000 donation toward the construction of the new Northwest Arkansas Food Bank that will serve residents across the counties of Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington in the Northwest Arkansas region. The donation builds upon Cargill’s legacy and commitment to fighting hunger and comes at a time when the need for food assistance remains high across the nation.
Cargill’s donation will support several projects for the new facility, including an expansion of freezer capacity that will allow the food bank to increase its distribution of frozen protein. Protein, including chicken, beef, pork, and some plant-based foods, are the most requested items for people facing hunger. Yet many local food banks lack proper infrastructure to refrigerate and repackage donated proteins in a safe way, resulting in a substantial gap in the amount of protein being distributed versus what is needed.
“This gift toward [the construction of our new center for hunger relief is another example in a long line of support Cargill has given the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. From donating protein to having fundraisers, to sponsoring a truck, to its team members serving on our board of directors, Cargill has always been there for us,” said Kent Eikenberry, President/ CEO, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
Groundbreaking for the new facility was held earlier this year and it is expected to open for operations in the first quarter of 2023. The Northwest Arkansas region is home to over 70,000 food insecure residents, many of whom rely on the food bank as a critical source of food and nutrition. With the population of the region expected to more than double in the coming years, the food bank is preparing to service a growing number of residents.
“Hunger remains a critical issue that impacts virtually every community across our nation, and Cargill is proud to continue our legacy of support for Feeding America and its network of member food banks,” said Shane Acosta, General Manager of Cargill’s Springdale facility. “We’re thrilled to support the development of this new state-of-the-art facility that will play a vital role in fighting hunger across Northwest Arkansas.”
The donation is one of many ways that Cargill is looking to tackle hunger throughout the United States. Cargill recently made a $4.9 million renewed commitment to Feeding America and network food banks, and has donated more than $28 million to Feeding America and member food banks in the last 35 years.
About Cargill
Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients and families with daily essentials—from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our 155,000 team members around the world innovate with purpose, empowering our partners and communities as we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way. From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how we’ve met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 157 years—and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.
About Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank (a 501c3 organization) was established in 1988 by a group of concerned citizens who saw the need for hunger assistance in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties. In 2021 the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed more than 14 million pounds of food and provided 11.3 million meals in the four-county area. Together with more than 110 partner agencies, 20 mobile pantries, and 19 school pantries, we are able to reach out to those in need; providing nutritious food to children, the working poor and senior citizens. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America and a founding member of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
Sam’s Club Associates Rally to Help Feed Our Neighbors
It was a great morning on September 13th packing boxes at Sam's Club Studio 83 in Bentonville.
With the help of over 70 Sam's Club Home Office Associates, we were able to pack 1,440 food boxes to be distributed into our community. These boxes are the equivalent of 22,800 meals for our neighbors facing food insecurity! Thank you, Sam’s Club for your continued support. We appreciate you!
How We Are Putting Your Dollars to Work
After moving from Florida to Springdale, Arkansas, Darryl hit a rough patch and needed help with groceries.
“I don’t have to launch into a long speech about how times are tough for everyone,” he said while waiting inside Feed the 479, a client-choice pantry and partner agency of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
At Feed the 479, neighbors peruse the pantry shelves, freezers and coolers similar to a grocery store. They have various choices, from racks of baked goods, shelves of canned vegetables and soups, freezers with meat and meals, fresh produce and more.
One time Darryl visited the pantry and received a case of ground turkey. “That’s a lot of spaghetti, meatloaf, lasagna and turkey burgers,” he said.
These options - made possible by a client-choice pantry - help Darryl to get exactly what he needs.
“Everybody doesn’t like the same thing,” Darryl said. “The selection is a plus ... It’s a variety which is good for me.”
“I’m just full of gratitude,” he added.
Feed the 479 is located at 3157 W. Sunset Avenue in Springdale and is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Photo is representative of neighbor. Courtesy of Nathan Allotey/Unsplash
We Love Our Volunteers!
A special thanks goes out to the members of the Kellogg’s team for volunteering at our Feed Rogers location. On September 30, it was the 27th Friday in a row the team came in and volunteered at this location!
Thank you, Kellogg’s!!
