Letter From Kent
Every day is a good day, but yesterday was a great day. It was one of those days that reassures me that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing at this stage of my life. Barbara Carter, our Agency Relations Coordinator, set up five visits to partner agencies for us to tour. Each of those five partners had received a grant from us to invest in their infrastructure with the goal of growing their capacity. Each and every one of those partner agencies were like proud parents as they showed us what they were able to do with their grant money. The commitment that our partner agencies have as they attack the issue of hunger is inspiring. Yesterday I was able to see and celebrate some of the fruits of my team’s efforts of the past 13 months. Yes indeed! Yesterday was a great day.
Speaking of the NWAFB infrastructure grant program, I would be remiss if I did not thank our partners at the Walmart Foundation for making it all possible. Through their generosity we were able to help 16 of our partner agencies increase their capacity to help the food insecure. Without stealing any of Barb’s thunder, these 16 agencies will be recognized at the Annual Agency meeting on February 23, with Barb making a special announcement that you will not want to miss. Please make plans to attend.
From the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.“We are grateful to the Senate Public Health Welfare and Labor Committee for stopping the proposed legislation that would limit the food choices SNAP recipients could make. Our commitment to increasing access to nutritious food for Arkansans in need focuses on positive strategies that empower low income people. We invite members of the legislature to join us in this effort.” As the AHRA states, we here at the NWAFB are committed to helping serve the food insecure with not only something to fill their bellies, but something good for them as well.
One of my favorite movies is “The Rookie” starring Dennis Quaid. It is the story of a high school baseball coach, Jim Morris, who never gave up on his dream to play professional baseball. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Morris after struggling with the decision to quit or go on, looks at one of his teammates with excitement in his eyes and states, “you know what we get to do today, we get to play baseball.” That feeling is what I get every day when I come to work. Regardless of what has gone good or bad the day before, every morning I wake up with the excitement of knowing, not that I am going to play baseball, but I get to help feed people. If you will continue to indulge me, let me share a quote from one of our clients. “A mother came in cold and sobbing. She was upset because her 3 children (ages 2, 3 and 6) might not have enough to eat. When she learned we had plenty of food to share with her, she had a bright smile on her face to share with us and her family. We were happy to help, and could only do so with assistance and food provided by NWAFB”! - 7hills Day Center
It simply doesn’t get any better than that.
Your generous support helps the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank work through a network of over 160 Partner Agencies and Programs to provide relief to our neighbors in need. Your gift is used to support Snack Packs which help to nourish school children on weekends. Your gift is used to deliver shelf stable food and protein to seniors who struggle to stretch their dollar. Your gift is used to help provide meals for the homeless, meals for battered women and meals for the working poor.
Feeding hungry people in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington Counties is no easy task…and the number of people who need assistance continues to grow as our population grows. Every day an estimated 27 people move into the four county area. Many of these come with a good job in hand. Many do not. We need your help to deliver hope in the form of food to those friends and neighbors who have nowhere else to turn.
Yes, yesterday was a great day indeed! Thank you all for what you do. Because of you, someone will eat today.
Kent
