Washington County Sheriff’s receives food boxes

Deputies at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will have new tool to fight hunger in the county.

The office was the latest to receive 25 emergency food boxes from the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank that deputies can give out to residents in the county who need assistance.

Washington County joins three other law enforcement agencies – Benton County Sheriff’s office, and the Rogers and Springdale Police departments -- who utilize the boxes. The Food Bank hopes to add more law enforcement agencies in the four-county area – Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington – to the program.

The food box partnerships with law enforcement is sponsored by Woodland Research Northwest of Rogers, a company that conducts clinical research trials. Richard Lally, marketing manager for Woodland, said there is a lack of mental health resources to help the homeless and the underprivileged. 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.

Austin Harms, community engagement coordinator with the Food Bank, said the boxes will cover a couple of meals for the recipients. Attached to every box is a list of pantries in the Northwest Arkansas area so families can seek additional assistance. 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.

It gives deputies a chance to interact with citizens and to provide meaningful help to someone, he added.“It’s a good feeling to know that we’re making a difference in Northwest Arkansas,” Harms said. “In their darkest time, they can have food.” Those served through the boxes are, many times, those who have mental issues,” he said, so the assistance will help them.

The boxes will help rural families and the information it contains for additional assistance will help them get the help they need, Patrol Sgt. Rick Jensen said. Deputies, up to this point, are doing stuff on their own to help, he added. “It’s a sad feeling to see a mom and her children in need,” said Deputy Jay Cantrell.

The Food Bank restocks the boxes on a monthly basis with the law enforcement agencies.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank serves more than 150 food pantries and agencies in a four-county.