News From The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank

FOOD FOR THOUGHT  October 2026

Letter From Our President & CEO - October 9, 2026

A meal on the table can mean one less worry during a difficult day. Thank you for helping give families across Northwest Arkansas that measure of stability.


For too many families, keeping up with the cost of food, housing, transportation, and other essentials means making choices no one should have to make.


At the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, we approach our hardest decisions through one lens: “Is it good for the neighbor?”


Whether we are supporting an agency partner, expanding a program, improving our operations, or bringing business and government leaders together to discuss food insecurity, that lens keeps us focused on the people we serve.


Answering that question starts with listening. Through our recent research, we surveyed more than 300 neighbors and listened to families and agency partners about what would make accessing food easier. Their feedback is shaping our next steps: helping people find available resources, strengthening local pantries, and expanding programs where they are needed most. These conversations are helping us build a stronger foundation for the challenges ahead.


Last month, during Hunger Action Month, our staff, supporters, and community partners showed up in a big way. It was encouraging to see so many people engaged in the activities and conversations that help shine a light on hunger. I am grateful to the many community members, organizations, and businesses that joined us. Hunger can be difficult to see and even harder to talk about. Your participation helped bring it into the open.


Hunger Action Month has ended, but the work continues. Families need support in October just as they do during the holidays, the summer, and every other season. Thank you for standing with us and helping make that support possible.


-Taylor

That's a wrap for Hunger Action Month!

Neighbor Story : Megan, West Fork Mobile Pantry

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For many of our Northwest Arkansas neighbors experiencing food insecurity, access to a Mobile Pantry means being able to afford other necessities while still having enough food at home.


The West Fork Mobile Pantry gave Megan and her family a reliable resource while she is between jobs. After hearing about the program from her sister, Megan visited the West Fork Mobile Pantry for the first time.


“My sister told me about it,” Megan says. “The process is organized and efficient.”


For Megan and her family, having access to food assistance during this time means one less difficult choice to make.


“I’m in between jobs, so this will help a lot,” she says. “We won’t have to pick between paying our water bill or having food.”


The Mobile Pantry, a Northwest Arkansas Food Bank program, is a drive-through food distribution with 19 stops across the region each month. There are no income, documentation or residency requirements. Households receive a mix of frozen meat, shelf-stable foods and fresh produce.


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 families like Megan’s, visit www.nwafoodbank.org/donate.

Agency Spotlight: Helping Hands - Bentonville

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Located in Bentonville, Arkansas, Helping Hands distributes food to neighbors Monday through Friday from 10:00am - 2:30pm.


The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank supplies food to Helping Hands, one of 80-plus agency partners across the region.


Helping Hands serves approximately 50 families each day through a neighbor-choice model, allowing neighbors to shop and select the foods they need, rather than receiving a pre-packed box.


“We used to do prepared bags, but we found that letting them shop works a whole lot better, so we switched to neighbor-choice about a year ago,” said Bill, Pantry Director.


Bill said the pantry is there to support neighbors during difficult times without judgment.


“We all find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We're here to help. We’re not here to judge anybody - we just want to make sure your stomach is full at the end of the day.”


Helping Hands goes beyond food assistance by offering financial support to neighbors in need.


“We provide help with rent, necessary utilities, medical visits, and prescriptions. We also provide vouchers for clothing, household items, and furniture,” Bill said.


Helping Hands is located at 2602 SW D St. in Bentonville. To receive food, you must be a Benton County resident, and an ID is required.

We Love Our Volunteers!

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During the month of September, we welcomed 735 volunteers who served a total of 2,230 hours. THANK YOU so much to those of you who helped us feed our neighbors last month! If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.nwafoodbank.org/volunteer to find a shift that works for you. Our November and December shifts are filling up fast, but we know that hunger does not stop after the holidays, and would LOVE to have you, your team, your family and your friends volunteer with us the first of the year! If you have any questions regarding volunteering, please contact hunter.jimenez@nwafoodbank.org.  Thank you!