Recently I played in the Mercy Foundation Golf Tournament. While that does not equate to earth shattering news, it does indicate to me that we are taking steps to return to a normal life, whatever that is. Everyone has heard the old saying, “a bad day on the golf course is better than a good day in the office.” I’m not sure I believe that, but Monday was truly a great day. I had a day. I enjoyed spending time with my playing partners in absolutely perfect golf weather. It was like the golf gods were rewarding us all for 15 months of being sequestered in our houses. However, at the risk of being a downer, the situation we have all experienced is far from being over. Yes, cases are decreasing. The number of our vaccinated neighbors is increasing. Treatments for those infected with COVID are improving. But the lingering impact of the economic downturn will be with us for the foreseeable future.

A recent article in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette stated that there are still thousands of hospitality workers without jobs and that many of them who have returned to work are working less hours thus bringing home less money in their paycheck. Couple that with the rising cost of living, the gap appears to be widening. I remember my mom and dad had a sign hanging in their kitchen, “Why is there always so much of the month left at the end of the money?” For thousands in Northwest Arkansas and beyond, there is even more month left than before.

Fortunately for those persons, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and our 135 partner agencies are there to help when the need arises. We can only help those folks with your help, so thank you for supporting our mission.

Speaking of events, I’m excited about the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Chefs in the Garden event coming up in a couple of weeks. Tuesday, May 25, area chefs will gather at the Botanical Garden for an evening of mingling and tasting. I’m excited for two reasons. One, for the first time since they began the event, my calendar is free and will allow Diana and me to attend. Secondly, the evening will help fight food insecurity as they will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Food Bank. Tickets are available now by going to their website https://www.bgozarks.org/ . I hope to see you there.

Have you been to the Rogers Historical Museum at 313 South Second in Rogers? You may be wondering where I am going with this. The museum holds a special place in my heart. You see, when I moved to Rogers in 1986 to become the Advertising Director of the Northwest Arkansas Morning News it was located at 313 South Second in Rogers. My introduction to Northwest Arkansas was in that building. I was blessed to have a boss who encouraged me to get involved in the community. I cannot thank him enough as that involvement led me to the Food Bank nearly 30 years later, but I digress. Rogers is celebrating its 140 th birthday this year. One part of the celebration is the creation of a time vault to be opened in 2081 during the city’s bicentennial celebration. I don’t intend to be around for the opening of the vault, but I will be part of the celebration as I have been asked to write a little bit about the role the Food Bank has played in serving the community of Rogers and beyond. Thank you Serena for giving me this opportunity.

Kent's contribution for the time capsule

I hope that in 60 years, those of you reading this will have to look in a history book to see what a Food Bank was. However, I fear that will not be the case. Founded in 1988, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank believes that one hungry person is one too many. Today that thought rings true in whatever we do. Food insecurity is a silent problem in Northwest Arkansas, multiplied because of the COVID 19 pandemic. The economic fallout caused thousands of persons to visit a food pantry for the first time ever this past year. But true to Rogers spirit, 2021 proved to me that as a community, no matter what problem was thrown at us, collectively we will work together to solve it. Through generous donations of time, talent and treasure, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed enough food for every food insecure resident to have reasonable access to the nutritious food they needed to survive. In closing, I want to thank the future supports of the food bank and state, “Because of You, someone will eat today.”

This was taken from my May 2017 column. Four years later, this still rings true, perhaps even more so as the community works to recover from the devastation caused by the pandemic. “This is the first May since 1960 since at least one of the Eikenberry household was not looking forward to the end of school. After all those years of school then all those years of Diana teaching, “schools out for summer” was a common battle cry. Today, I look at summer vacation differently. I think about the thousands of children who are food insecure and don’t have the safety net of the school lunch program for nourishment. There are several groups with whom we are working to address this need but we need your help. Your donation to the food bank during the summer helps us put food in the hands of those who need it the most. One hungry child is one too many”

I want to close by thanking everyone for their continued support. I wish I had time to thank each of you personally. I cannot put into words the gratitude I feel every time we receive a note of encouragement, a phone call or a monetary donation, no matter the size. I know you have given of yourself to help make life a little better for those who need our help. My pledge to you is that we will continue to be a good steward of the treasures you have shared with us and that we will work hard to be better tomorrow than we are today.

Have a great day.

Because of you someone will eat today………………….and tomorrow.

K

What used to be an office building only five years ago is now Returning Home: a non-profit organization that works with men and women released from incarceration.

“Our goal is to increase access to foundational services to make sure these men and women’s transitions back into the community is successful,” Executive Director Nick Robbins said, “and that they are able to live a life without crime.”

Opened in 2017, Nick wanted Returning Home to be a “one-stop shop” for men and women who needed access to multiple helpful services. This would remove the challenging aspect of transportation for many of those in need. Returning Home is the umbrella organization for several partners, each of which offer their own services.

Goodwill oversees job preparation and placement, TCIY Behavioral Health offers mental health services, Phoenix Recovery does the residential aspect, Arkansas Community Corrections has a parole officer at the site five days a week, and Returning Home makes sure everything runs smoothly.

Returning Home offers residents classes in finance, decision-making, crisis management, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and multiple types of support groups. They also keep the food pantry stocked, oversee volunteers, stock hygiene kits and a clothing closet, and cook two hot meals a day for residents. “We are cooking and providing over 6000 meals a month to our residential clients,” Nick said. Unsurprisingly, Returning Home was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic like so many individuals and organizations around the country. Nick said Returning Home was affected: “Significantly,” he said with a chuckle. “Everything is more challenging.”

Before COVID-19, Returning Home served almost completely walk-in clients and was doing about 33 hours of classes and programming per week. After COVID started, they had to close their doors for a few months to get everything on track. Now, they are serving clients by appointment only and handing out packets in lieu of formal sit-down classes to accommodate COVID-19 protocols. They went from 30-35 people per class to maybe eight people in the room at a time.

Nick said many of the clients at Returning Home struggle with trauma, mental health issues, and addiction in some form. They are doing everything they can to be there for those who need them, but COVID-19 had made that harder. “The need for us to be here is greater,” Nick said, “but our ability to meet that need is reduced." With that being said, Nick said that he is proud to say that Returning Home has served more clients and received more funding last year than the year before. About 300 clients went through Returning Home’s 90-day residential program in 2020.

“If we get caught up in what we don’t have or what we can’t do, we won’t get anything accomplished,” Nick said. “So instead, we just see the need, meet the need, and keep moving forward." Returning Home is funded by generous individuals, grants, and the support of local churches. Nick said all of their partnerships, including their partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, are the reason they can collaborate with so many people. Nick said many clients come to Returning Home for basic needs like hygiene and food to be fulfilled, but stay for the several other services offered. The staff at Returning Home try to peel back layers to find out what else they can do to help the client.

Nick wants to thank the Northwest Arkansas community and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank for supporting the organization. “Even though many were impacted, and still are, by what’s going on, we couldn’t have done as well as we have done in any other area,” he said. “That’s why I feel blessed to be here.” Returning Home is located at 703 N Thompson St. in Springdale. They have staff members at the center from 9am-4pm Monday through Friday but are accepting clients by appointment only. Their phone number to schedule an appointment is (479) 287-5870.

Investment to Support 12-Month Mobile Pantry Initiative in Northwest Arkansas

Springdale, Ark. – May 7, 2021 – Tyson Foods has given a grant of $500,000 to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank that will provide monthly mobile food pantries to the community for 12 months. Through the mobile pantry model, food will be distributed to residents in pre-packed boxes available for pick up at designated sites. The first event was held today in Springdale.

“Speaking for the thousands we have served through our mobile services, I cannot thank Tyson enough for their support. With their help we will be able to expand efforts, working more hours, feeding more people and helping to make lives better,” said Kent Eikenberry, President and CEO, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Through Tyson’s support, 2,000 pre-packed boxes of food will be distributed via mobile pantries throughout Berryville, Fayetteville, Green Forest, Rogers and Springdale each month. The food boxes will be filled with nutritious food including protein, produce, and shelf-stable healthy foods. The mobile pantries will serve 6,000 individuals every month.

“We’re proud to support the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and its commitment to hunger relief,” said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “We hope that during the next year we can help individuals and families gain greater access to food and continue to be part of the solution to fighting hunger in Northwest Arkansas.”

Distribution events will be held every Friday of each month. Through April 30, 2022, Tyson’s support will provide 24,000 boxes of food in total in these four communities following a rotating schedule:

· First Friday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. at Parsons Stadium, 1423 E Emma Ave., Springdale, Ark.

· Second Friday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. at Veterans Park, 500 E Veterans Parkway, Rogers, Ark.

· Third Friday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. at Old Marvin’s IGA, 1620 S School Ave., Fayetteville, Ark.

· Fourth Friday of the month from noon to 4 p.m. at North Arkansas Sale Barn, 304 W Main St., Green Forest, Ark.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and aims to serve Northwest Arkansas counties by providing an affordable and credible food source to its partner agencies serving people facing hunger. To learn more about the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and how you can help, please visit www.nwafoodbank.org .

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 2020 the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed more than 13.25 million meals. Together with more than 135 partner agencies, 15 mobile pantries, and 12 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.

About Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods, Inc., (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp®, and State Fair® . Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, United States, the company has 139,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.TysonFoods.com

Media Contact:

Chattin Cato

Media Relations & Internal Communications

Tyson Foods

Chattin.Cato2@tyson.com

479-644-7208

Julie Damer

Marketing & Communications

Northwest Arkansas Food Bank

julie.damer@nwafoodbank.org

479-361-8167

For the month of April, we had 86 volunteers serve a total of 370 hours in our warehouse, in our garden, and at our Mobile Pantries. We love and appreciate everyone who takes time out of their busy schedules to come and volunteer with us. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers! If you are interested in making a difference in someone’s life today, visit www.nwafoodbank.org/volunteer to pick your volunteer shift. Thank you for helping us feed NWA!