The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas has a mission of “Building Bridges from Hunger to Hope,” but that mission goes beyond providing meals to those in need. Staff at the Food Bank believe when the entire community comes together around issues of poverty and hunger, they are better able to provide resources and education to meet the long-term needs of those served by the Food Bank.
The number of food-insecure area residents has increased over the last year-and-a-half. Food Bank CEO Jeff Quick was a recent guest of the Talk of the Town on KTLO-FM, and he says the numbers had increased in overall population, but more significantly in childhood population.
Listen:
The Food Bank has a nine-county service area. In addition to Baxter and Marion counties, the local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization also serves Fulton, Izard, Searcy, Stone, Boone, Newton and Sharp counties.
The Food Bank began as the Norfork Community Care Program. In 1982, a devastating flood crippled the area, and thousands were displaced and in need of food and shelter. To meet the immediate need, Alice and Hubert Ayers established a soup kitchen out of their Norfork residence. With the help of many volunteers and the Salvation Army, they served flood victims and rescue workers. Today, nearly 4.5 million pounds of food are distributed annually throughout the Food Bank’s service area as a Partner Distribution Organization of Feeding America.
In addition to providing food and grocery items through a network of partner hunger relief organizations, staff at the Food Bank endeavor to care for individuals’ long term needs. Quick says two programs offered by the nonprofit are “Cooking Matters” and “Cooking Matters at the Store.”
Listen:
For a number of years, the Food Bank’s biggest fundraiser and hunger-awareness event has been Bridge Bash. It was originally held in downtown Cotter and later moved to the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bridge Bash had to be canceled for the second consecutive year, but there are other events occurring. Quick says September is Hunger Action Month.
Listen:
The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas is always looking for donations and volunteers. For more information or to get involved, call 870-499-7565, visit the Food Bank at its location on Highland Circle in Mountain Home, or go online to foodbanknca.org.
This month, Our Community Cares, sponsored by Farmers and Merchants Bank, the Vitality Plus Wellness Center, Danny Porter of Century 21 LeMac Realty, Carl Wayne’s Nurseries, Arvest Wealth Management and KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot, recognizes the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas and its mission of Building Bridges from Hunger to Hope. Learn more at ktlo.com/ourcommunitycares.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI