A Letter From Our President/CEO

Dear friends and supporters,

Happy New Year. Welcome to 2016.

It is common to look back on the past year and look forward to the coming year at this time of the year. For me, this annual reflection is significantly different than the past. For the first time in my adult work life I sit at my desk, confused about what exactly I am supposed to do. After 40 years in the newspaper business I had a pretty good grasp of what to do next. After three days as the new President/CEO of the Food Bank, not so much.

I do know there is a tremendous need for what we do in Northwest Arkansas. Every night too many of our residents go to bed hungry. Every morning too many of our children wake up with the ache in their stomach that only food will take away. But you also know that or you would not be involved in the Food Bank in whatever capacity you are. So if you will indulge me, I would like my introductory remarks to include a lot of thank yous.

Thank you to all the agencies who work with us to serve the clients. You are the ones that put the food on the plates of those in need.

Thank you to all the businesses who support us with either monetary donations or donations of product.

Thank you to all the volunteers who through their efforts of stuffing envelopes, running a food drive or working an event. You provide us with so many man hours we could never begin to staff.

Thank you to the staff. This is one of the hardest working, most dedicated group of people I have ever encountered.

Thank you to the Food Bank Board. I appreciate your confidence in my ability to switch directions and take on the leadership role of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Finally, I want to thank Marge Wolf, our recently retired President/CEO. She has poured her entire self into the Food Bank for the past years and has it in a wonderful position. Under her leadership we have seen double digit growth in the amount of clients we serve and the amount of food distributed. People have told me I have big shoes to fill in replacing Marge. But I know I can never replace her, I can only hope to continue to build on what she has already accomplished.

In closing, it is important to me that each of you know I will do the very best I possibly can, but to truly succeed I need your help. If you have any suggestions on things we can improve upon, please share them with me. My cell phone number is 479-640-0559 and my email is kent@nwafoodbank.org, feel free to use them at any time.

Together we can attack hunger in Northwest Arkansas.

Talk to you soon.

Kent