July 23, 2010:

Thanks, Gregg for inviting me to present the mission and programs of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas to the Midway’s UPS crew!  Employees of United Parcel Service is given the opportunity, each year, to give to charitable organizations through United Way.

Thank you for supporting our mission for the past three years!

-Linda

July 2010

According to a new report released by Feeding America, Arkansas has the largest population of kids under age 18 going hungry.

Read Child Food Insecurity in the United States 2006-2008 report here.

Each year, when school lets out for the summer, a new set of problems begins for parents like Dedra White and thousands others: how to put breakfast on the table.

"It gets real hard because the kids aren’t in school," White said. "So they really aren’t getting the real amount [of food] they need."

"The summer food program is important because it gives us an opportunity to serve the kids breakfast and then serve them lunch," said Moody Chapel’s Rev. Hezekiah Stewart in charge of the summer food program.

Unfortunately, Stewart’s program has grown since last year, while others like it across the state have fallen to financial difficulties.

"There are so many children that are not here, whose parents do not have transportation, who can’t get to some of these sites and they too are going hungry," said Stewart.

Relief advocates in Arkansas have always known the hunger situation to be a big problem but a new study now seems to have it written in stone.

According to the Feeding America report, 24.4 percent of children in Arkansas have little to no access to food and are going hungry.

"We were surprised that we made such a jump into that number one spot," said Rhonda Sanders, executive director of Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.

She says poverty is a real issue in trying to curb hunger.

"For children, [food is] critical to their ability to learn, and to grow adequately. And cuts down on medical costs, improves their education," Sanders said.

Hours spent studying the details of the Feeding America report, beg the question — now what?

And to that, Sanders says the work has already begun to turn the numbers around for next year.

And it’s not just Arkansas — Texas and Arizona came in second and third place as having the biggest population of children going hungry.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday heard about the need for America’s children to eat better, as they consider legislation that would help ensure that happens.

"Malnourished kids are not capable of vision and ideas, and with out that we are relegating this great nation to a future of meritocracy and poor health," said Chef Tom Colicchio, testifying on Capitol Hill.

The Improving Nutrition for American’s Children Act is meant to combat childhood hunger by increasing the number of children eligible for free school breakfast and lunch programs; also, extending those programs to cover weekends and summer breaks.

The act also attempts to reduce childhood obesity.

June 2010

Dr. Richard and Jo Byrd, members of the Board of Directors of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas are shown accepting a check for $870 from representatives of the recent Mountain Home High School Multi-year (1940-1961) Class Reunion which was held at the Baxter County Fairgrounds.  In accepting the gift for the Food Bank of North Central,  the Byrds noted that this will provide over 4,000 meals for those experiencing food insecurity throughout the Food Bank’s nine county service area.  Shown left to right are the Byrds, Mary Haney (‘57) Patsy Casebolt (‘55) and William Casebolt (‘56).

Thank you to all of the MHHS 1940-1961 Class Reunion Donors!

April 6, 2010 Taken at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, Norfork

Pictured from left to right:  Paula Hill, Office Manager; Jo Wilson, Board Member; Joan Carlsen, Thrift Store Manager; Jo Byrd, Board Member; Richard Byrd, Board Vice-President; Chris Lipscomb, Norfork Community Care Program Manager; Bob Knight, KTLO; Jim Gaston, Gaston’s Resort; Deborah Stanuch, Board President; Martha Grant, Board Treasurer; Jan Wilson, Board Secretary; Alice King, Board Member; Gary Averill, Board Member.

Almost 5,000 pounds of canned and frozen foods were donated to the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas by Sysco Foods Services of Arkansas through the coordinating efforts of Bob Knight and Jim Gaston.

Special thanks to Chad Butler, Sysco Food Services of Arkansas and to Keith Larson, Gaston’s  Resort and Steve Wilson, special friend of the food bank!

April 24, 2010, Norfork Community Building

The 2010 “Fiesta” Volunteer Banquet, was well-attended by the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas’s volunteers, including the volunteer Board of Directors, as well as the staff and special guest, Walt Eilers, the food bank’s organizational planning consultant.

The festive event was coordinated and decorated by Jo Wilson and Jo Byrd, both members of the Board as well as Joan Carlsen, Thrift Store manager and Chris Lipscomb, Norfork Community Care Program’s food pantry manager.

The members of the FBNCA’s Board of Directors– dressed in black and white–served spicy Mexican cuisine to the volunteers as they were seated at tables decorated in “south of the border” style while Mexican music filled the air!

Volunteers and board members received recognition and awards. Special awards were presented to those individuals with the most volunteer hours.

Chris positioning Frankie Baker for a try at the Pinata—blindfolded, of course!

Can’t get any more fun than this!