Food insecurity affecting more than 89,000 in Northwest Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — More than 89,000 people across the Northwest Arkansas region are not sure where their next meal will come from — an issue that continues to plague the Natural State.

In a recent report, the United States Department of Agriculture says Arkansas is the most food-insecure state in the nation.

But in Fayetteville, one ministry that is doing all it can to make a difference in the issue.

“What we see is individuals coming from all over that are just trying to bridge the gap between what they have left available after working, and what they don’t have left available,” Monique Jones, the director of outreach and community collaboration at the Historic St. James Missionary Baptist Church, said.

She says what most people struggle with is putting healthy and nutritious meals on the table.

“It’s not that they’re not working, it’s they don’t have enough left after their paying their housing, and utilities, and paying for their transportation, in order to buy food, and in order to buy fresh food, in order to buy fruits and vegetables and things that keep you healthy,” Jones said.

Jones says the St. James Food Pantry can serve up to 1,000 families a week, but it’s not a task that comes with ease.

“It’s not me alone, and I couldn’t do it without the communities. We’re doing it together,” she said.

Even with the refrigerators and shelves at the pantry being fully stocked, Jones says helping people across four counties will take a specialized team effort.

“It is a systemic issue, and it’s some things that we need to address as it relates to food and security. It is some things that we need to address in regard to funding,” Jones said.

Recently, the Food Systems Leadership Network announced the ‘Arkansas Food Systems Fellowship ,’ a 24-person cohort, designed to further the work that many like Jones are already doing.

“The Food Systems Leadership Network wants to work more on fostering collaboration between farmers and the farmer’s market and food pantries and food banks,” said Jones.

According to the network, “the fellowship will support a diverse cohort of 24 Arkansan leaders with training and technical assistance to understand the context and systems they are working in, and provide the resources needed to shift those systems.” It also believes “that those closest to the problems are closest to the solutions.”

You can view the entire cohort here , and learn more about each member.

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