In Northwest Arkansas, hundreds of families every single week struggle trying to find where their next meal will come from.
Thankfully, there is a place and a group of people who are there to help.
Feed the 479 is a local nonprofit food-choice pantry located in Springdale off of West Sunset Avenue helping provide food and a multitude of other needs for families all across the area.
Feed the 479 is a part of Compassion NWA, which is a branch of Crosschurch. The food-choice pantry is currently open four days a week Monday-Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and 9-11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“A choice pantry is a little different from your normal food pantry in that it’s kind of set up like a grocery store,” Director of Feed the 479 Dennis Smiley said.
Smiley said in the last year, they have fed over 160,000 families. Currently, Feed the 479 was given around 1000 turkeys from one of their partner companies at an extremely low price to help provide food for families during the holiday season.
Feed the 479 is currently preparing for the Thanksgiving season by trying to restock and supply to help those with the holidays with there being a greater need for those who are lacking food.
“We have seen a huge, probably about a 20% increase in our client base in the last three months due to the rising food cost,” Smiley said.
There are multiple food types and sections in which they currently provide for families whenever they visit to retrieve food. These sections include a protein section, produce section, bakery section, and choice-item section.
Currently, the majority of those helping and working at Feed the 479 to keep it up and running are solely volunteers.
Feed the 479 Pantry Manager Katie Stone said they are currently partnered with Helen Tyson Middle School to host a cereal drive for students and their families through a video advertisement.
Not only is Feed the 479 currently a part of Compassion NWA, but they also have other partners as well. They are currently partnered with some of the biggest names in the corporate world such as Walmart and Tyson Chicken while also being in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
For those wanting to donate to Feed the 479 and help fight hunger in Northwest Arkansas, here is a link to click on below to give or go to the Compassion NWA website and click donate.
https://app.securegive.com/CompassionNWA/compassion-nwa/donate/category