The North Central Board of Realtors in Arkansas delivered nearly 40,000 pounds of food to local food pantries as part of its annual Feed Our Children event.
The Mountain Home Observer reports more than 60 realtors and affiliate members collected food for 18 hunger relief organizations across Baxter and Marion counties and Calico Rock. The deliveries came when food pantries were struggling to assist a record number of residents affected by the 43-day federal shutdown.
“This year, the longstanding partnership came at just the right time,” said the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas in a statement, adding that local pantries were overwhelmed as federal nutrition programs were suspended. Although the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were restored with the reopening of the government, the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas is expecting an elevated demand to remain elevated through the holiday season.
