FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Letter From Our President & CEO – April 2026
Spring, Hope, and the Work Ahead
I love the feeling of spring. There’s a freshness to it. A sense of renewal. Hope feels a little closer this time of year.
You can feel that energy across our team right now. There’s a bounce in the step as we go about the work of nourishing our neighbors across Northwest Arkansas. It’s a reminder that even in the face of real challenges, there is still forward momentum. There is still reason to believe we can meet the need in front of us.
At the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, we often say that food is the foundation. When people have consistent access to food, everything else becomes more possible. Health improves. Kids can focus in school. Families can begin to stabilize and move forward.
I was recently with other food bank leaders from across the country. There are certainly things to be concerned about. That’s real. But what stood out more than anything was a shared sense of resolve. A belief that we will continue to show up for the people who need us most.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve also spent a lot of time in the car with my wife and our three daughters. On a recent drive, my oldest started asking questions about some of the communities we passed through. She wondered if people had enough to eat. If they were safe.
It stopped me for a moment.
There’s something simple and honest about the way kids see the world. They don’t overcomplicate it. They just care. We all need to make sure we have enough. But if we also paid closer attention to whether our neighbors do, we would be closer to the kind of community we all want to live in.
That’s the work in front of us. It is work that gives me a lot of hope.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and it is a good time to say clearly that we could not do this without our volunteers. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is built on partnership, and no partners show up more consistently than the individuals and groups who give their time. They pack boxes. They sort food. They make sure it gets out the door and into the hands of neighbors who need it. We are deeply grateful.
This month, we are also sharing our 2025 Annual Report. It reflects a year of meaningful progress. It also makes clear how much work remains. I hope you will take a few minutes to read through it and see how your support is helping move this mission forward.
If you have questions or want to learn more, I would welcome the conversation.
Taylor
Neighbor story: Lorenzo, Prairie Grove Mobile Pantry
Photo representative of neighbor. Courtesy of Canva.
Over the past eight years, Lorenzo has relied on the Prairie Grove Mobile Pantry as a consistent source of food that he can count on. He first learned about the Mobile Pantry from his friend, Betty.
Lorenzo’s monthly visits to the Prairie Grove Mobile Pantry have become a dependable routine and a way to ensure he and his friend have enough food.
“I’m 73. I’ve been coming here for over eight years,” Lorenzo says. “I first heard about it from my friend, Betty. She’s not here today, so I’m picking up her food for her.”
Lorenzo says he is grateful for the reliability of the Mobile Pantry and the quality of the food provided.
“You do a good job. I’m happy with what we get.”
For the latest Mobile Pantry schedule, please visit our Facebook page or www.nwafoodbank.org/find-food.
To make a one-time donation to support people like Lorenzo, visit www.nwafoodbank.org/donate.
Agency Spotlight: Bella Vista Baptist - The Pantry
Open every Monday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., The Pantry at Bella Vista Baptist Church provides food to neighbors in a welcoming, caring environment.
The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank supplies food to The Pantry at Bella Vista Baptist Church, one of 90+ agency partners across Northwest Arkansas.
Ed, Lead Pastor at Bella Vista Baptist and Director of The Pantry, understands that picking up food for the first time can feel intimidating, which is why he strives to maintain a space rooted in dignity, community, and understanding.
“It’s far beyond food; food is just a small part,” Ed says. “I tell our everybody that works here - every one of us is one car accident away, one loss of a job, or one cancer diagnosis away from needing to do this. And so, we treat everybody that way. It could be any person, and we could be in that same position.”
For Ed and his volunteers, the mission goes beyond groceries. They are dedicated to creating a space where neighbors feel welcome from the moment they arrive, fueled by their volunteer team and their eagerness to serve the community.
“I’ve never worked with a group of people like this. They’re so passionate. They’re not dragging in on a Monday morning. It’s just been a huge blessing. All our clients learned that we don’t make you do anything. We just want them to feel safe.”
The Pantry experienced a change in their atmosphere since opening in July that exemplifies the powerful impact of what showing up for your community can look like.
“Thanksgiving changed our entire dynamic,” Ed explained. “We ended up giving out 52 boxes of complete meals. And I don’t know what happened, or why, but it now has people coming here, and there’s laughter, they’re sharing, hugging, and answering each other’s questions…We’re seeing this wall just continuously break down. I talk to everybody. People are sharing that their needs are being met.”
Neighbors who visit the Pantry at Bella Vista Baptist are greeted by a volunteer upon entering the building and asked to sign in. Neighbors are asked to have a seat in the waiting room as volunteers prepare their groceries. Once ready, a volunteer walks the groceries out and helps load them into the car.
Neighbors can visit The Pantry every Monday and there are no requirements to pick up food.
They can be contacted at 479-855-3748.
