Letter From Our President & CEO – February 10, 2025

Can you imagine, after working your entire life, sitting down at the kitchen table with your spouse, not to eat, but to decide if you are going to turn on the heat? Or are you going to take your medicine? Or which bill is the most pressing and must be paid before services are turned off?  Maybe after all of these are taken care of, you finally look in the cabinet for something to eat and the cupboard is bare!


That’s life for approximately 17% of those Arkansans over the age of 60.


If you cannot visualize what life is like for these neighbors, perhaps this story will better illustrate it.


Several years ago, I was volunteering at my church food pantry when a friend of mine came in.  He was retired as a civil employee and had owned his own business,  so I was shocked to see him.  With a tear in his eye he shared the reason.  “Kent, you know my wife has been sick. We have spent our entire savings on medicine and treatment.  My grandchildren are coming and we don’t have anything to feed them and I cannot imagine having to tell them there is nothing for them to eat.”


Thankfully, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is there to help my friend, and the thousands who, like him, are experiencing food insecurity. But we can only be there with your help.  Your donations provide more than just food, they provide security in the fact that those in need can feed their grandchildren when they come visit.

K

The ripple effect of one wish has changed lives across Northwest Arkansas, starting in Goshen.

Sabrina McGinnis envisioned a community where no one was hungry and every family flourished. She dreamed of starting a food pantry in Goshen and establishing a place where her neighbors could develop lasting relationships that withstand difficult seasons.

Pastor Wesley McGinnis established Sabrina’s Wish in January 2024 in Sabrina’s honor, following her passing in 2021.

“As her husband, and the pastor of our church, I witnessed Sabrina’s selflessness and unwavering commitment to helping those in need,” Pastor Welsey said. “Her dream was to create a space where everyone, regardless of circumstances, could find nourishment and support.”

Neighbors walk through the pantry rooms, picking the items they want from the labeled shelves. Volunteers assist with shopping carts and loading the groceries into vehicles.

As an agency partner of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Sabrina’s Wish distributes the food they receive to anyone in need. There are no residency or income requirements, and neighbors can visit the food pantry twice a month.

The pantry’s food options span a wide variety. They also distribute pet food, baby care items and hygiene products.

Local retailers, like Harps and Walmart Neighborhood Market, and community members also donate. One donation of flowers touched hearts deeply.

Sabrina was “all about flowers and getting somebody flowers, and it’s kind of strange that with the kick-off of the food pantry, the Neighborhood Market starts sending in a bunch of flowers,” Pastor Wesley said. “It’s like almost her signature.”

“I felt like it was her telling us, ‘You’re doing a good job,” Felisha Smith, CEO of the food pantry, said.

Sabrina's Wish Goshen Food Pantry at the Church of Truth is open the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m. They are located at 122 Tuttle Rd. in Goshen and can be contacted at 479-601-9474.

Club 100 Class of 2024 

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Rozina was walking along 13th Street in Rogers one day when she saw people step into what looked like a new grocery store.

Seeing her neighbors pushing carts through the aisles and picking out produce from the coolers, she was surprised to learn the space was a food pantry called Feed Rogers.

Along with picking up groceries for her household, she has found many resources at Feed Rogers to share with her family and community.

Rozina helps care for a friend’s six-month-old baby so she can work. “So that way, I told [my friend] she doesn’t have to pay nobody,” she said. 

So when she heard that Feed Rogers was hosting “Feeding in the First Year,” a workshop on infant and toddler nutrition, Rozina quickly signed up.

Participants learned how a child’s developmental stage impacts what they can eat. The workshop also included hands-on demonstrations, making different types of baby food from apples. Participants took home a baby food storage tray and a kid-friendly crinkle-cut chopper.

Rozina’s biggest takeaway from the workshop was learning new information about the developmental stages.

“A lot of things have changed, so it’s really interesting,” she said. “And for this mama that I watch the baby for, she’s learning a lot, so I’m trying to help her out."

For upcoming workshops at Feed Rogers, please stay tuned to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank's social media pages.