Fill the Food Bank kicked off bright and early on Friday with a goal to gather 350,000 meals for those in need this holiday season. Running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., volunteers are set up at Walmart on Highland Drive and 15 other locations across Northeast Arkansas to collect both food and monetary donations.
Chrissy Holbrook, a development officer at the Food Bank of NEA, highlighted the importance of this event. “This is our biggest day of the year,” she said. It comes just before Thanksgiving to help neighbors facing hunger during the holidays. Each dollar donated can provide about three meals, making every contribution count.
All donations made in a county stay within that county, helping local families. Areas participating include Craighead, Greene, Jackson, Randolph, St. Francis, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Lawrence counties.
Donation Locations:
- Walmart Supercenter: 1815 E. Highland, Jonesboro
- Walmart Supercenter: 1911 W. Parker Road, Jonesboro
- Neighborhood Walmart: 3319 Harrisburg Road, Jonesboro
- Sam’s Club: 2405 S. Caraway Road, Jonesboro
- Harps: 8107 US-49 N., Brookland
- Walmart Supercenter: 2802 W. Kingshighway, Paragould
- Neighborhood Walmart: 2600 Linwood Drive, Paragould
- Walmart Supercenter: 1211 Highway 367 N., Newport
- Walmart: 1600 W. Main St., Walnut Ridge
- Walmart Supercenter: 3700 E. State Highway 18, Blytheville
- Walmart Supercenter: 2720 W. Keiser Ave., Osceola
- Walmart Supercenter: 512 Industrial Park Drive, Trumann
- Edwards Food Giant: 605 N. Illinois Ave., Harrisburg
- Walmart Supercenter: 1415 Highway 67 S., Pocahontas
- Walmart Supercenter: 205 Deadrick Road, Forrest City
Holbrook mentioned a rise in food requests recently, saying, “Food insecurity is a real issue, and our community is stepping up.” Her words reflect a broader concern about food security, especially as recent studies show that nearly 1 in 10 Americans face hunger, a sharp increase compared to previous years.
Accepted items include non-perishable goods like canned foods, peanut butter, and macaroni and cheese. If you prefer to donate money, you can do so at any location or online.
Elizabeth Johnson, the Food Bank’s donor engagement coordinator, noted that many people are eager to volunteer. Even so, a few slots remain open for those who want to help.
Community support is vital. Trey Stafford from Jonesboro Media Group echoed this, stating that events like Fill the Food Bank showcase a commitment to “superserve” the community. “If you put the community first, everything else will fall into place,” he said.
In this season of giving, the Fill the Food Bank event represents a crucial effort to alleviate hunger and bring neighbors together. For more information, visit the Food Bank of NEA’s website here.
