FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Letter From Our President & CEO – February 2026
Winter has a way of narrowing your focus. When temperatures drop, the margin for error gets smaller. Heating bills climb. Groceries stretch less. For many of our neighbors, this season brings very difficult choices. Do I keep the house warm or buy food? Do I refill a prescription or fill the fridge? These are not abstract trade-offs. They are real decisions families across Northwest Arkansas are making every day.
Recently, I had a small glimpse of how quickly life can feel overwhelming. During last week’s winter storm, my three girls were home due to school closures while I was still trying to work. The days felt long and heavy. Even with support, it was hard to keep everything balanced. That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for how quickly disruption and difficult choices can stack up, especially when resources are already stretched.
Experiences like that are a reminder of how important consistency is, especially during times of disruption. That consistency is something I see every day in our Club 100 volunteers. Club 100 recognizes volunteers who give more than 100 hours of service in a year through our Volunteer Center, Mobile Pantry, and Feed Rogers. Last year, 39 volunteers reached that milestone, contributing more than 7,000 hours of service. Seventeen people joined this group for the first time. That level of commitment is remarkable. When I see these volunteers in the building, or out in the community, loading boxes and serving neighbors, I know the work is getting done. I know families are being fed. Their presence brings steadiness and confidence, and it matters more than they may ever realize.
At the same time, many of our neighbors are navigating changes to SNAP. SNAP remains a critical support for working families, seniors, and individuals trying to stay on their feet. As requirements shift and eligibility becomes more limited, some households will face new barriers to consistent access to food. When that happens, the need does not disappear. It shows up at food pantries, mobile distributions, and partner agencies across our region.
Through it all, our role remains clear. We work every day to provide access to food for all neighbors who need it, because we believe food is the foundation.
Taylor Speegle
President/CEO
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
Neighbor story: Pamela
Photo representative of neighbor. Courtesy of Canva.
When Pamela found herself going through a difficult time, she found Feed Rogers as a beacon of hope, knowing she would have access to food.
Feed Rogers is a free client-choice pantry located in downtown Rogers and operated by the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank staff that allows neighbors to select their own food, rather than receiving a pre-packed box of groceries.
Pamela is grateful to the staff at Feed Rogers and wide variety of items available for her to shop.
“It’s been just a pleasant place. I came in one month to get a few extra things to fill up my pantry - things I need and some extras that I wouldn’t normally be able to afford. I spent years donating to food banks, but I was just badly off one month and stopped in. I’ve never had to do this in my life before, but doing it has just been a pleasure because everybody is so sweet.”
We know that anyone can experience food insecurity, and welcome all to our center. Our top priority is to create an environment where neighbors feel safe and that they are treated with dignity and respect by staff and volunteers.
Pamela is grateful for how welcoming everyone at Feed Rogers was to her during a tough time.
“You guys were just so sweet. People here are willing to help if you need something and make a pleasant day out of it.”
Feed Rogers allows one visit monthly and is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 479-408-4393.
To make a one-time donation to support neighbors like Pamela, visit
Welcome new members to our Board of Directors!
“We are pleased to welcome our new board members and thankful for their willingness to serve alongside us as we work to fight hunger across Northwest Arkansas.”
Taylor Speegle
President/CEO
