Letter From Our President & CEO – April 10, 2025

This week we hosted representatives from twenty-one food banks from across the Feeding America network for the 2025 Protein Pack Room Convening. I was so proud of our team who worked tirelessly to put this convening together and to make sure our guests will always remember their trip to Northwest Arkansas.  I was even more proud to share with our guests YOUR Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.  So, please allow me to thank you all one more time for the support you gave us as we built this wonderful facility.  One takeaway from the meeting is that food insecurity is a grand challenge, not a zip code problem.  Fortunately, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, a membership organization of 200 food banks who support each other’s efforts.

Speaking of Feeding America, next week I, along with our board chair and our board vice-chair, will be attending Feeding America’s National Conference.  If this year is anything like years past, it will be packed with sessions that will help the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank be better than we were yesterday.  You’ve heard me say it time and time again-my goal for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is to show continual improvement and to be the best version of a food bank that it can be.

We were in a staff meeting the other day when one of the leadership team pointed out that April was nearly full with back to back to back activities.  These activities range from Game Show Battle NWA ( a full out fund-raising event) to a special volunteer night, to cause marketing events, just to name a few.  I like being busy.  I like it when the community is excited to help us out.  While we still have a long way to go, it tells me that we are getting the message out that food insecurity is present in Northwest Arkansas and we need to all pull together to fight this growing problem.

Have you had a chance to tour your Claude and Betty Harris Center for Hunger Relief?  We would love to show you around.  Please contact us and schedule a tour.  Better yet, go to our website, nwafoodbank.org and sign up for a volunteer shift and get a tour at the same time.   

Thank you all for your continued support.  Because of you, someone will eat today

K

Thank you to Light the World and everyone who donated to give holiday meals, Seed to Supper gardening and nutritious classes, a week of groceries, senior meals, and peanut butter and jelly to families in need across NWA. 

We’re grateful for your generosity! 

Food insecurity doesn’t discriminate, and its impact reaches families across Northwest Arkansas. The team at Food2Families sees people from all walks of life visiting their distributions every week.

“Our heart is to serve the community. Just like Jesus provided food to the masses, we want to be there to help anyone, no matter their circumstances or their need,” said Jason, directional leader and founder of Food2Families. “And sometimes, people just need to know that they’re seen and cared about.”

Food2Families, an agency partner of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, hosts a drive-through food pantry in Bentonville. They partner with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to host five Mobile Pantries in western Benton County. They also participate in Order Ahead free grocery pick-up in Centerton, Siloam Springs and Rogers.

While meeting community needs, Food2Families also works to break down the stigma around seeking assistance. Jason noted that some families must prioritize car payments in areas with limited public transit, challenging the misconception that having a car equates to having enough money for food.

“Whether somebody is getting $150 worth of food from us that week because they didn’t have the money or it allowed them to make their cell phone payment or their car payment, that’s the way we can help them,” Jason said.

Bentonville drive-through pantry

Every Thursday, Food2Families hosts its drive-through pantry starting at 9:30 a.m. until all food is distributed in the Catalyst Church parking lot at 2812 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville. There is an intake form for first-time visitors, but there are no other requirements to receive food.

Households in need can visit each week. They have a variety of foods, including meat, fresh produce, dairy, shelf-stable foods and snacks to choose from.

Mobile Pantry

Food2Families partners with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to host the Mobile Pantry in Hiwasse, Gravette, Siloam Springs and Decatur. There are no income, documentation or residency requirements to receive food. For the full Mobile Pantry schedule, please visit the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Facebook page. We ask that you visit one Mobile Pantry stop per month.

At the Mobile Pantry locations hosted by Food2Families, they offer some client-choice foods in addition to the frozen meat, fresh produce and pre-packed shelf-stable items provided by the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Order Ahead

Order Ahead, a program of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, is a fast, private and easy way to order free groceries online and pick them up at a participating food pantry. Food2Families hosts participating locations in Centerton, Siloam Springs and Rogers. To find a location near

you and place an order, visit www.orderahead.org. There are no qualifications to use Order Ahead and you can place an order once a month.

For more information on Food2Families, please contact 479-202-1010.

If you have questions about the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Mobile Pantry or Order Ahead programs, please contact 479-872-8774.

Photo representative of neighbor. Courtesy of Canva/Milan Radulovics.

While chopping apples into wavy shapes, Ashley grinned and thought of the fun she’d have with her three kids in the kitchen.

“I liked making apples into french fries,” she said, describing one of the hands-on activities during the “Feeding in the First Year” workshop at Feed Rogers earlier this year.

The workshop focused on how a child’s developmental stage impacts what they can eat. Hands-on demonstrations showed how to make different types of baby food from apples. Participants took home a baby food storage tray and a kid-friendly crinkle-cut chopper.

Ashley has attended multiple Feed Rogers workshops, where she’s found resources for her family and belonging and connection with her community. The staff’s warm welcome and the variety of choices make Feed Rogers a special place.

“It just seems very laid back,” she said. “You come in and do your shopping versus sitting in your car and going through a drive-thru, which both are fine, but I totally get the difference.”

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

During the month of March, we welcomed 675 volunteers who served a total of 1,955 hours volunteering with us. We love our volunteers, and we couldn’t do what we do without them. If you are interested in our volunteer opportunities, please visit www.nwafoodbank.org/volunteer to find a date and time that works for you.