Fayetteville Police join food partnership program

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank added its fifth law enforcement food partnership program on Friday, March 10, when 25 food boxes were delivered to the Fayetteville Police Department.

Fayetteville joins the Benton and Washington County Sheriff’s offices as well as the Rogers and Rogers Police departments.

The Food Bank is partnering with Woodland Research, which is providing the funding for the program.

Mike Reynolds, deputy chief of police for Fayetteville, talked about the importance of the partnership to the community. “We have a need in the community,” Reynolds said. “Our folks encounter that need for food and services.”

The food boxes will fill the gaps for food particularly with homeless folks, he added. The boxes will be split within the 30 vehicle patrol division.

Richard Lally, marketing manager for Woodland, said his company, which does a lot of work in the mental health field, is trying to reach out to the homeless population that is underserved in the mental health area.

“Currently officers are purchasing food out their own pockets to help those in need,” Reynolds said. “So these boxes help our officers as well.” Austin Harms, community engagement coordinator for the Food Bank, said the boxes will assist the recipients, particularly when families have to leave their homes and the food pantries are closed. The food boxes, which contain contact information about area pantries, can tide the families over until they have a chance to get to a pantry.

Following a suggestion by the Rogers Police Department, the Food Bank has started to include food that is easy to use for homeless people. The food would include snacks and foods that require little preparation. Some of the items in the box include pasta, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti sauce, rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, canned goods, tuna helper and cereal.

Harms also thanked Woodland Research for working with the Food Bank on the partnership program. “Without them, we couldn’t do it,’ Harms said. “They have been a great resource.”