Stomp Out Hunger opens storefront inside HS Mall
Stomp Out Hunger, a nonprofit organization comprised of local church and business partners, has kicked off its 2017 campaign and opened a storefront at Hot Springs Mall.
Stomp Out Hunger provides food to families in need during the holidays through partnerships with The Salvation Army, local churches and businesses, along with donations from the community, a news release said.
“In the past, the aim of Stomp Out Hunger was to provide families in need with a great Christmas meal,” Greg Bearss, lead pastor at LakePointe Church, one of the founding partners of Stomp Out Hunger, said in the release.
“But then we learned about the number of children in our schools who depend on the school meal programs for one or two of their daily meals — meals they might not get during their Christmas break. At that point, we felt that to make a difference, we needed to help make up for those meals these children in need would not be getting. That’s
when we changed our focus,” Bearss said.
Now in its eighth year, Stomp Out Hunger’s 2017 church partners include Champion Christian College, Creekside Community Church, Eureka Baptist Church, First Church of the Nazarene, First Freewill Baptist, First Lutheran Church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, The Hand of the Potter Ministries, Hot Springs Baptist Church, LakePointe Church, Oaklawn Church of God, River of Life Church, The Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Glory Barn Church, and Trinity Church.
The 2017 business partners include Amy’s Inspiration Alley, Arkansas Hunters Feed the Hungry, Dairy Queen, Divine Design, Fat Bottomed Girls, Harps, Hot Springs Mall, Kroger, KVRE, McDonalds, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Sam’s Club, Somerset Apartments, STARTEK, The Pointe Apartments, Walmart, Walmart Neighborhood Market, and YMCA.
Continued partnership with the Hot Springs Mall allows Stomp Out Hunger to keep a storefront at the mall during the holidays. It is located at the main entrance between Dillard’s and J.C. Penney. The storefront provides a central location for storage, donations, and distribution.
Nonperishable food items can be dropped off at any church or business partner location, or the Hot Springs Mall location. Monetary donations may be made through the Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave. Checks should be made out to Stomp Out Hunger.
Call Toni Gipson at 6234237 or 249-3690 to help with Stomp Out Hunger, or to receive assistance this year.