Feeding America serves as umbrella group for Food Bank

The Chicago-based nonprofit Feeding America plays an integral role in the day-to-day workings at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. The national food agency works with more than 200 food banks across the country as a source for food, said Carrie Harlow, director of finance and development.

In many cases, Feeding America can find the staple items used every day at the Food Bank at a lower cost, she said. For example, people might spend a $1 for a can of green beans, but Feeding America can sell 5-7 cans of the same product for that $1.

Feeding American provides more than just food products to the NWA Food Bank, Harlow said. It offers various training seminars for the Food Bank’s personnel, including general operations; development, finance and working with agencies; recycling and fundraising ideas as well as assistance grants through other organizations that would not otherwise be available.

Feeding America works with Walmart, for example, on a grant to hire retail coordinators to allow food banks to go into Walmart stores to help increase donations to the food banks across the nation.

Harlow recently attended a finance, technology and human resources seminar in Denver to ensure the Food Bank is meeting the new human resources laws, different financial programs and how everything is meshed together as food bank.

There are six food banks in Arkansas that are members of Feeding America.Every 18 months, Feeding America will conduct an audit on the Food Bank’s finances and programs to ensure it’s in compliance with its contract with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.