BENTONVILLE — BThe Benton County Sheriff ’s Office kicked off its annual food drive Monday.
Marge Wolf, president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said the sheriff ’ drive last year collected approximately 8,500 pounds of food.
“It’s grown every year,” Wolf said of the food drive.
“Which is good because the demand has grown every year.”
Capt. Mike Jones, head of the Sheriff ’s Office Field Division, said inmates and deputies began Monday placing green collection barrels at 27 sites across the county.
“Normally, people will see the barrels and call in and ask for one at their business,” Jones said. “If they do, we’ll get one out to them.”
The food bank distributed more than 3.5 millionpounds of food throughout Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties in the past year, Wolf said.
“We’re already over 4 million pounds this year and will probably distribute over 5 million before the end of the year,” Wolf said.
“We figure we fed over 100,000 people.” Wolf said the drive’s emphasis is to get nutritional foods such as peanut butter, macaroni and cheese and canned fruits, vegetables and soups.
“It’s gotten to the point where the food comes in one door and goes right back out the other door,” Wolf said.
The demographics of those receiving food have changed with the economic downturn, Wolf added.
“A lot of people who used to donate food are now in line to get food,” Wolf said.
“We all think of the food going to homeless people.
But now, some of it’s going to people who are underemployed. They’ve losttheir jobs and been rehired to a job that pays less. But they’ve still got the same mortgage and expenses.” Wolf said the cooperation with the sheriff’s department benefits both her group and the inmates.
“Because the inmates bring it and pick it up, we don’t have to take a truck and do it ourselves,” Wolf said. “When the inmates come, they really seem to be pleased. And I don’t think it’s just because they’re out of jail. I think it makes them feel like they’re contributing to the program. I think they take pride in helping.” Jones said police departments in Lowell, Pea Ridge and Gravette participated in the program last year.
“We’ve extended an invitation to other departments,” Jones said. “We get into a competition with each other to see who can collect the most. We have a lot of fun with that.” Food will be picked up Mondays and Fridays through Dec. 23, Jones said.
FOOD DRIVE BARREL LOCATIONS
AVOCA
◊Avoca City Hall, 222 Old Wire Rd., Avoca
◊Avoca One Stop, U.S. Highway 62, Avoca
◊Latham’s, 819 Lester Lane, Avoca
◊Sunny and Hair, 120 E. Rose, Avoca
PEA RIDGE
◊Community First Bank, 198, Slack St., Pea Ridge
◊Dollar General, 149 Barris Lane, Pea Ridge
◊Marvin’s, 240 N. Curtis Ave., Pea Ridge
◊Oakview Animal Clinic, 14391 Dove Rd., Pea Ridge
◊Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic, 535 Lee Town Rd., Pea Ridge
News, Pages 6 on 10/20/2010