Nonprofit plans 3 food workshops

ROGERS — A nonprofit group is wanting to give people new skills in addition to nutritious foods.

Feed Rogers, a Northwest Arkansas Food Bank no-cost grocery store, will be hosting three workshops this month aimed at doing just that.

The workshops will take place at 3 p.m. today , Wednesday and Jan. 26 at the Feed Rogers pantry at 216 S. 13th St.

The nonprofit began hosting the monthly workshops last year to offer additional resources for the community, said Jasmine Canady, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank community resource coordinator.

“I think I’ve been to all of them,” said Glenda Stockton, an area resident. She said she became aware of the workshops while visiting the pantry and keeps attending because she always has a great experience.

The workshops hosted in this month will be about nutrition and mindfulness, two topics that will be repeated throughout the year. Canady said workshop topics are based on community needs.

“I try to listen to what needs are coming up for a lot of our neighbors,” Canady said. She also analyzes data from surveys that are sent out bi-yearly from Feeding America and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, respectively. Canady said on the survey by the Food Bank she was able to add curated questions specific to people the group serves in Northwest Arkansas to see what classes would be most applicable and appropriate for the community.

Stockton said the workshops add value to her life because every class has something attendees can take away, whether it be knowledge or something tangible.

Canady said a Feed Rogers workshop that went over well with the community was a four-week class in November on recipes and nutrition.

Attendees were shown how to make “easy, go-to meals.” Stockton said different lessons were taught on how to read food labels and how to build a healthy plate.

Recipe cards with instructions on how to prepare each meal and groceries needed were given to participants after the sessions, so they could make the meals at home.

“The workshops add a bright spot in my day,” Stockton said.

Stockton said something she has learned in the mindfulness workshops and uses often is to “take a moment to breathe.” She said she has a better ability to identify her reactions and when a situation can become overstimulating.

People have an additional opportunity to shop the Feed Rogers inventory after they attend a workshop, and it doesn’t count toward their regular one visit per month to the pantry.