Here’s the pitch… : Food Bank, Naturals team up for food drive
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2008
ANTHONY REYES Northwest Arkansas Times Jack and Sue McConnell, with the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Rogers, load up food Tuesday at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Bethel Heights to take back to their church’s food bank. The food bank is holding a food drive in conjunction with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to boost its overall supply.
One organization wants more cans. The other, more fans. The solution is a joint effort between the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the form of a food drive. For the 7 p.m. games Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday against the Springfield Cardinals, the first 75 patrons with two canned goods or other nonperishable foods can enter Springdale's Arvest Ballpark with a general admission ticket to the berm in right field. Fans wanting to take advantage of the deal are encouraged to show up a the food bank's table set up outside the ballpark by no later than 5: 30 p.m. Those wanting tickets can always bring more than two items. Agency members said that during the current tough financial times the food bank needs all the help it can get.
The hunger for more help Using simple economics, the food bank has significantly more demand than supply, putting the organization into uncharted waters during its 20 th anniversary. With trucks and vans either picking up or dropping off food on a constant basis, the food bank supplies more than 150 area agencies in Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison counties to try to lessen the hardships of the estimated more than 100, 000 area residents who go hungry every day. "I wouldn't say we're scraping the bottom of the barrel but we're close," said Katie Lay, the food bank's development coordinator. "I think in any area you find some [food banks ] can be worse than others, but we're low. We're very low on the things to really be serving the people the best we can. "
Those items chiefly include the desired products of the food drive such as canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned soup, macaroni and cheese, cereal and rice.
While standing in the organization's 12, 000-square foot warehouse in Bethel Heights, Lay pointed out that although the facility appeared to contain several boxes and crates of items, not all were as critical as others.
"Now we're very happy to get Gatorade," said Lay, standing next to a small hill composed of the sports drink," but it's not going to fill you up."
With the economic slump affecting the amount of food given by donors and an increase in need, the nonprofit organization has had to reach into its own wallet to meet that need. As of Tuesday, Gerald Demory, the food bank's director of agency and donor relations, said the organization had spent more than $ 128, 190 in 2008. In contrast, the agency spent less than $ 40, 000 to purchase food in 2007, Demory said.
Demory added that during this year that the decrease in donated food has been as low 46. 4 percent, whereas the increase in need for distribution has soared as high as 62. 3 percent.
The final stretch With only seven home games left, the Naturals would love to give anyone who has not come out to the ballpark an opportunity to do so. As of Thursday, the Naturals had a five-game lead over Springfield in the northern division of the Texas League, giving an added significance to the upcoming series. The secondhalf victor will play the Arkansas Travelers in the playoffs. With a mark of 41-22 at Arvest Ballpark, the Naturals have one of the best home records in Minor League Baseball. "We just want to keep that going and one of the ways to do it is to keep new fans coming in," said Frank Novak, the team's marketing and public relations manager. "We're looking to expose as many people as possible to our product, but at the same to partner with as many [community ] organizations as possible. "So far, the team has partnered in such efforts as a blood drive last July with the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and The Ozark Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Race for the Cure last April. A similar 5 K / fun run sponsored by the local chapter of the ALS Association will be held Sept. 27 at the ballpark grounds. Erin O'Donnell, who serves as the Naturals' marketing coordinator, said the team plans to increase its programming and involvement with nonprofit organizations in the upcoming offseason and next season. "Northwest Arkansas is just inundated with nonprofits," she said. "We have been approached by so many organizations throughout the area. "Those who wish to give the food bank food, money or any other resources, are encouraged to call the agency at 872-8774.
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