Food Bank Of Northeast Arkansas
Hungry people turn to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas for help. The nonprofit organization based in Jonesboro is the primary source to collect, store and distribute food to more than 90 nonprofit agencies in 12 counties in northeast Arkansas.
We provide emergency food to families in need through our network of nonprofit agency and programs, said Christie Jordan, executive director of the Food Bank.
With seven full-time employees, three part-time workers and an army of about 470 volunteers, the Food Bank serves more than 5,000 people every week and 67,000 unduplicated individuals each year, Jordan said.
It distributed 3 million pounds of food in 2011, up from 2.6 million pounds in 2010.
Jordan said the agency was seeing more people now than in years past partly because of the sluggish economy and because more people were aware of the services that the food bank offers.
In addition to its network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, the Food Bank also has a backpack program that serves 525 students during the school year and a food box program that provides an elderly person a box of food every other week for a year.
The Food Banks revenue varies from year to year based on the grants and donations it receives. It also receives food from food manufacturers.
A $7.9 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation will help pay for the project. The warehouse should be completed late this year.
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
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Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was established in 1988 by a group of concerned citizens who saw the need for hunger assistance in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties. In 2017 the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed more than 12.5 million pounds of food. Together with more than 160 partner agencies, the food bank is able to reach out to those in need providing nutritious food to children, the working poor and senior citizens. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America and a founding member of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
Find Food At The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
If you are in need of food assistance, our Partner Agencies can help!
Made up of a network of many different agencies such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, these hunger relief partners ensure that families, children and seniors in our community have a consistent source of nutritious meals and groceries.
Please view the agency map below to find a food resource near you!
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Food Bank Needs Help Amid Economic Struggles
JONESBORO, Ark. – The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas hosted a free produce distribution event in Jonesboro on Friday, July 22.
However, as the event fell outside of the typical commodity distribution schedule, it raised a few questions.
As it turns out, the food bank is falling short of its quotas.
According to Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Hannah, the reason is a bit complex.
With rising gas prices, grocery prices, inflation, were feeling here at the food bank. Our dollars arent going as far, she said.
Feeding America sets quotas based on Meals Per Person in Need in specific regions.
During the pandemic, several food pantries closed. Along with economic concerns, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas has a big problem.
Not only does the organization have to distribute more food, but they also have to pay more to get it.
Thats why the produce program was born.
What makes it great is its a grab-and-go thing. People dont even have to get out of their cars, agency relations coordinator Amber Horton said.
The program gives the food bank the additional opportunity to distribute cheap, healthy, and in-season food.
Fridays event saw several pallets full of fresh produce handed off from volunteers to those in need.
According to Horton, the food bank would be nothing without those volunteers
To have people coming out on a Friday during the hottest part of the summer, it means everything, she said.
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Food Bank Of Northeast Arkansas Has An Endless Mission
by George Jared November 15, 2022 8:44 am 269 views
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NEA Outstanding Business of the Year AwardFood Bank of Northeast ArkansasNonprofit Business award
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas was in desperate need of a new facility. The estimated cost to renovate a larger facility was around millions of dollars, and Food Bank CEO Christie Jordan told Talk Business & Politics she wasnt sure where the money would come from.
Then the organization received a grant to pay for the project. Its been a decade since then, and Jordan said its among the most pivotal moments of her career.
The Food Bank has been selected as the Talk Business & Politics Northeast Arkansas Nonprofit Outstanding Business of the Year. The award is presented by QualChoice.
In November 2012 the Food Bank moved into our new distribution facility. We moved from a 13,000-square-foot building to a 56,000-square-foot distribution center that was specifically designed for our work, she said. Achieving that goal was years in the making.
Since 1983, the Food Bank has distributed several million pounds of food throughout Northeast Arkansas. The Food Banks Core Food Distribution program accepts donated bulk food that would otherwise be destroyed from local and national manufacturers, retailers and growers. This food is then stored and redistributed to charitable agencies that rely upon the Food Bank to provide nutritious food for their communities.
We need donations of time, food, and money, she said.
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Giving Guide: Food Bank Of Northeast Arkansas
Tweet It Pin ItVolunteers load a truck with food for delivery in Monette.
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas provides hunger relief to people in need by raising awareness, securing resources and distributing food through a network of nonprofit agencies and programs.
Here are some important statistics about food insecurity in this region of the state:
71,800 people face food insecurity in northeast Arkansas.
The Food Bank needs to double its distribution of 6.5M meals annually to close the meal gap in northeast Arkansas.
One in four children are at risk for hunger in northeast Arkansas.
One in 11 senior citizens face the threat of hunger in northeast Arkansas.
How The $3 Million Gift Will Benefit The Food Bank Of Northeast Arkansas
JONESBORO, Ark. – Hungry families in Northeast Arkansas can thank a generous philanthropist for providing millions of dollars to a local food bank.
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas announced Thursday it has received a $3 million charitable gift from author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Scott announced in a blog post titled 384 Ways to Help that the food bank would share in more than $4.1 billion in gifts to charities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Scott and her team, according to a news release, used research and data to curate a list of 6,490 organizations that exhibited strong leadership and proven results.
They then pared that list down to 384 organizations, including the food bank.
We have received transformational gifts before but this one is going to allow us to solely focus on providing food through direct services working with our food pantries and doing produce distributions, CEO Christie Jordan said.
In 2020, the food bank distributed the equivalent of 8.6 million meals. That was 2 million more meals than the previous year.
We are incredibly honored to be included among the organizations benefitting from Ms. Scotts generosity, Jordan said. Our team works incredibly hard to be efficient and effective in our mission of hunger relief.
Copyright 2021 KAIT. All rights reserved.
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River Valley Regional Food Bank
1617 South Zero, Fort Smith, AR, 72901
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In June of 1986, the Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council in Fort Smith formed the River Valley Regional Food Bank to address hunger in the region. Today, the food bank, a partner with Feeding America, distributes more than 9.5 million pounds of food annually to people facing hunger in eight West Central Arkansas counties. Partnering with the food bank are 190 nonprofit agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, youth programs and emergency shelters. One in six people, and one in four children, suffer from food insecurity in the River Valley region.
Thank You For Wanting To Help Feed The Hungry
This site exists to help connect you with the hunger relief efforts happening right in your community, whether you are wanting to make a donation, volunteer your time or donate food there is a place for you to help us in the fight against hunger.
There are six food banks in Arkansas who provide food to all of our 75 counties. These food banks serve as distribution sites for millions of pounds of food and other relief items that go out into the regions they serve each year. These millions of pounds of food are distributed to individuals and families in need by local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other non-profit organizations that feed the hungry. To learn more about the work happening in your community just hover over your county on the map and it will link you to the food bank that serves your area.
Arkansas Foodbank
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