An Arkansas family is motivated by food insecurity to establish a free community pantry

North Little Rock, Arkansas – One North Little Rock family established a free community pantry to aid individuals who are food insecure after realizing the need in their area.

Nora Popejoy, who resides in the Baring Cross area, said that she regularly purchases food from the pantry.

“If it wasn’t for them, there would be plenty of nights where we would be without food,” Popejoy said.

Popejoy claims that she visits the pantry to buy food for her two grandchildren who live with her.

“I get up in the morning and walk down there and get something for them to eat during the day, and then I walk down there and get something for them at night, and it takes a lot of stress off of me, and I’m sure it does for everyone else around here too, I mean things are just really hard right now,” Popejoy said.

Due to recent natural catastrophes and significant power outages in Arkansas, the Arkansas Foodbank has experienced high attendance in its distribution activities.

One in seven Arkansans, according to Ebony Mitchell, Director of External Affairs at the Arkansas Foodbank, are unsure of where their next meal will come from.

“In Arkansas, about 15.5% people are struggling with food insecurity so Arkansas ranks pretty high on the numbers when it comes to people who are food insecure,” Mitchell said.

According to Mitchell, Arkansans are eager to help in any manner they can, and the foodbank is appreciative of their volunteers.

The Tatum family established a communal pantry after identifying a need in their neighborhood. According to Richard Tatum, they wanted to help since they were aware from personal experience of the difficulties associated with food insecurity.

“There was a time a couple of years ago, where we did have a child in our neighborhood come knock on our door and say that he was hungry, that kind of sowed the seed in us,” Tatum said.

The family claims they replenish the pantry every day and observe several visitors.

“My wife kind of grew up in a food insecure situation, I grew up in a food insecure situation, and we kind of know what it’s like,” Tatum said.

They stepped up to the plate with a desire to help, and now local families have an easy way to acquire their next meal.

Alanna Tatum claimed that inflation as well as power shortages had led to a necessity.

“A lot of people in this neighborhood may be on WIC or food stamps, but that’s not stretching as far as it used to, and it’s harder for people to get by month to month,” Tatum said.

Even though things are tough, the Tatum family feels fortunate to be able to aid their neighbors.

“It takes a lot of stress off of me, and I’m sure it does for everyone else around here too, I mean things are just really hard right now,” Popejoy said.

Visit ArkansasFoodbank.com to learn more about the locations of the food banks in Arkansas.
https://arkansasfoodbank.org/locations/