News Taffy

Thursday, as you are sitting down with your loved ones to what is most likely a massive meal or maybe even multiple meals if you must visit the in laws, take time to be especially thankful for the bounty on your table. There are plenty of others here in Jonesboro and the rest of Northeast Arkansas who aren’t so lucky. Sure, they may get a free meal on Thanksgiving at a local church but what about the rest of the year?

According to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, an estimated 500,000 people in Arkansas go hungry each day. That’s half a million. It’s sobering to think that half a million people go to bed hungry each night just in Arkansas, that children go to school hungry or someone’s grandparents must make the choice between food, heat and medicine. The government sets the poverty level for a family of four at $22,350 but a mother with three children, working 40 hours a week at minimum wage only earns $15,080, considerably below the poverty level. It shouldn’t take a genius to realize that a hungry child won’t learn as well, will suffer health and developmental issues, will lack the education to fill certain jobs and ultimately won’t be able to rise out of poverty. The repercussions of hunger ripple throughout the community, not just the individual household.

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas serves as a warehousing and distribution center for over 100 partner agencies such as food pantries, shelters and senior citizen centers in 12 counties of Northeast Arkansas. They accept bulk food from local and national manufacturers, retailers and growers and of course, monetary donations. The Food Bank also has several commodity distributions throughout the year directly to people in need and operates both a backpack program for school aged children and a senior citizen pack program to get food to those who need it. Approximately 5000 people receive food each week either directly from the Food Bank or from one of its partner agencies.

There are many ways you can help alleviate hunger in our own backyard. Simply write a check or as so many generously did last week, participate in food drives. The Food Bank always needs volunteers for office work, sorting or collecting food and many other jobs. There are also other agencies serving the hungry here in Jonesboro - Helping Neighbors Food Pantry is an inter-faith food pantry serving Craighead county. They always need donations and volunteers. The City Youth program serves after-school snacks and meals and can always use volunteers and donors.

When making a donation to one of these worthy causes, consider that money can be used wherever the need is greatest. Often these agencies can buy food in bulk at a cheaper cost than you can so your dollar will go further. If you want to drop off some food at a food drive, consider buying canned meat other than tuna, cans with pop tops, canned beans, canned fruits without extra sugar, canned vegetables other than green beans and corn, two of the most popularly donated vegetables, and hearty soups like beef vegetable or chili with meat. You will make a difference in someone’s life.