JONESBORO, Ark. (May 8, 2024) – The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is embarking on a vital expansion project aimed at enhancing its capacity to serve local families grappling with food insecurity. Construction is currently in progress for a new volunteer center, spanning an additional 3,500 square feet, dedicated exclusively to accommodating volunteers.
Initiated late last year, this expansion is anticipated to be finalized by the end of summer, offering a much-needed solution to the existing space constraints faced by the organization. Currently, volunteers at the Food Bank of NEA pack approximately 5,000 food boxes each month, a crucial effort in ensuring that essential resources reach those in need within the community.
Christie Jordan, CEO of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, emphasized the pressing need for expanded facilities, highlighting the challenges encountered due to limited space. “We have so many volunteers that we outgrew the space in our existing building,” stated Jordan. “We want to utilize all the volunteers that we possibly can.”
The new volunteer center will not only provide volunteers with their own dedicated workspace but will also enable the Food Bank to accommodate a larger volunteer force, thereby increasing the volume of food boxes packed and distributed to families facing food insecurity.
With construction expected to conclude by the end of the summer season, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is poised to significantly enhance its operational capacity and make a more substantial impact in addressing food insecurity within the region.
