Northwest Arkansas — Even in an economic downturn, people of northwest Arkansas continue to give to those in need.
“People don’t care if you have cable TV, but they care when people go hungry,” Marge Wolf, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said.
Doubling the amount of food given to the 2009 Benton County Sheriff ’s Office Northwest Arkansas Food Drive, Benton County residents gave more than 8,371 pounds of food to donate.
The drive collected 4,714 pounds last year.
“We’re very pleased and happy for the donations,” Sheriff Keith Ferguson said at a news conference Dec. 23. “This is the seasonto be giving, not receiving.”
In Pea Ridge, food barrels were placed at several local businesses as BCSO Capt. Mike Jones challenged Pea Ridge Police Chief Tim Ledbetter to see which community could fill their barrels first.
“Capt. Jones has lost to Pea Ridge twice,” Ferguson said. “The competition is all in fun and it’s going for a good cause.”
“We appreciate being challenged by Mike,” Ledbetter said.
“We appreciate it even more when we win. But we’re just one police department on the east side of the county. There are a bunch more on the west side that need to man-up.”
Ledbetter challenged the policedepartments on the west side of the county to participate in next year’s food drive.
There were 29 drop-off locations throughout the county.
Ferguson commended Ronnie Smith of Avoca who challenged people attending the AvocaChristmas Parade to give cans of food.
The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank distributed more than 3 million pounds of food in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties last year.
“You have no idea what this food means to people,” Wolf said.
“The food literally comes in one door, goes on the shelf and goes back out the other door.
“The demographics have changed to include the elderly,” she said. “There are people who were giving last year that are taking from the pantry this year.
That has to be difficult for them.”
Ferguson also praised Harps Foods, Whitie Smith of Rogers and Iberia Bank.
“Harps put out a great effort,” Ferguson said. “I don’t know how many barrels they emptied.”
The food drive was Oct. 15 through Dec. 23.
News, Pages 1 on 12/30/2009