News From The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank

Neighbor story: Ty, Grace Chapel Food Pantry

Photo representative of neighbor. Courtesy of Canva.

“It takes a village to raise a child” is not only about offering help to our neighbors. It’s the courage to accept help when we need it, too.

When Ty turned to his kids’ school counselor for resources, she connected him with Grace Chapel Food Pantry in Rogers. At the food pantry, Ty found both food for his family and caring relationships.

“Anyone who walks through the door is welcome,” Ty said. “They’re doing their best to understand your situation without prying, so they can offer you the best things. When they ask you questions like, ‘Do you have kids?’ it’s not prying. They might ask, ‘Are they in diapers?’

because they are looking to be as helpful as possible.”

When you enter Grace Chapel, volunteers will greet you and guide you through the check-in process. Your kids are welcome to play and read in the kids’ area near the pantry shelves, so you can walk through the pantry independently. Volunteers will assist you as you choose the

food and personal care items that you want from the shelves.

For Ty, this meant picking up his kids’ favorite ravioli, along with chicken and beef to plan meals for the week. He likes the client-choice model because it’s quick and easy for everyone.

“If you’re worried about language being a barrier, it’s very much a point-and-pick system,” Ty said. “You don’t have to have a conversation with these people about your life or anything. You don’t have to know the name of what you are getting. You can just see it, point to it, and go.”

Ty knows it can be hard to walk through the food pantry door for the first time. He encourages others to take the first step because the community is ready to offer support.

“There are no strings attached,” he said. “Nobody’s asking you to come to church on Sunday. Nobody is asking you to do this, that, or the other. They are just here to give and offer, and that’s been just fabulous.”

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank supplies food to Grace Chapel Food Pantry, one of 110+ agency partners across NWA.

Grace Chapel’s food pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Neighbors can visit the pantry each month. A photo ID is required for check-in. They are located at 1801 S. Dixieland Rd., and they can be contacted at 479-636-7045.

To support families like Ty's with a one-time donation, visit www.nwafoodbank.org/donate-online.

Agency Partner Spotlight: H2O Food Pantry

For Amy, the director of H2O Food Panty in Centerton, helping others is what community is all about.

H2O Food Pantry serves an average of 80 households a week, not only from Centerton but also from surrounding areas, including Gentry and Bella Vista.

Amy said the food pantry thrives on community support, including from local businesses, fellow churches, and Centerton’s mayor. They all aim to combat food insecurity and ensure that households have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.

“People can come any time, whenever they need,” Amy said, emphasizing that there are no qualifications to receive help with food.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank supplies food to H2O Food Pantry, one of 110+ agency partners across Benton, Carroll, Madison, and Washington counties.

Along with distributing meat, produce, bread, and shelf-stable foods like canned vegetables, rice, and beans, the pantry volunteers also hope to feed a person’s heart.

“It’s one of our important goals,” Amy said. “They need something even more important than food, and that is love, connection, and respect.”

H2O Food Pantry is open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Living Waters Methodist Church, 424 N. Main St. in Centerton. You are welcome to visit weekly or as often as needed. They can be reached at 479-644-7598.