Brothers, buddy extend legacy of helping others
The figures are disturbing, but here they are on this white and orange rectangular card from the Arkansas Foodbank.
More than 19 percent of Arkansans don’t know where their next meal is coming from. One in four children and one in four senior citizens are at risk for hunger in Arkansas.
Combating these numbers, which are among the worst in the United States, is the work of the food bank, which serves about 280,000 people in 33 southern and central Arkansas counties. In 2016, the group distributed about 25 million pounds of food and says that 96.5 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to feeding programs.
“Our mission statement is that we are the foundation against hunger,” says Sarah Riffle, annual giving director of the Foodbank. “We find pathways to direct people, resources and food to reach hungry Arkansans.”
The food bank, which has been around since 1982, relies on volunteers and support from farmers, corporate donors, food drives and individuals. Among those contributing is Legacy Termite & Pest Control of Little Rock.
Owned by brothers Jay and Marc Heflin and their lifelong friend and business partner Chris Maloch, the company is being honored for its work with the food bank at the 15th annual Empty Bowls event, 6-9 p.m. May 12 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
“We wouldn’t be able to be the foundation in the fight against hunger without our community partners,” says Rhonda Sanders, Foodbank CEO. “The Heflin family, along with everyone at Legacy, help us to not only provide food for families, but dignity, hope
and a brighter future for all Arkansans.”
For the brothers and their buddy Maloch, it’s a part of their … well, legacy.
“The community is how we build our business,” says Jay, 46, last month at Legacy’s Cantrell Road office. He says his grandfather and father always helped the less fortunate and “that was just something that got passed on to us naturally at home and also through
our business. It’s something Chris’ father was also involved in. It’s something we’ve always wanted to do.”
Marc, 43, adds, “It sounds a bit much to say it’s like breathing, but it’s part of what you’re supposed to do. That’s what we were taught and, hopefully, that’s what we’re teaching our kids.”
Beyond the food bank, the Heflins and Maloch also contribute to Baptist Health Medical Center, Easter Seals and their alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University. The Heflins’ mother, Sharon, is a past board
member of the Foodbank, which merged with the Arkansas Rice Depot in January.
Legacy’s roots are in a Terminix franchise started in the mid-’50s by John L. Heflin, grandfather to Marc and Jay. Their father, Johnny, took over running the business around 1969 and eventually brought in his friend, Jim Maloch, Chris’ father.
For John L. Heflin, the Foodbank’s mission to feed the hungry was something that hit close to home.
“He came from a more humble background, which
was not uncommon in the ’20s and ’30s,” Marc says. “Food security — they didn’t call it that back then — was something he was familiar with as a child. He always made sure that the Foodbank or the Rice Depot was something he was going to support.”
“That always resonated with us and the Foodbank is an organization we all want to be a part of,” Jay adds.
The Malochs and Heflins were neighbors in the Landmark community, and the boys grew up hanging around together.
“They were next door,” Maloch, 46, says, “but that meant climbing over cow fences to get to each other. We played countless hours of tennis at their house.”
Indeed, the three friends were part of a state championship-winning tennis squad at Mills High School.
And now they’re being honored for their contributions to battle hunger at next month’s Empty Bowls.
“It’s our signature fundraising event,” Riffle says. “It’s a popular event with food banks all over the country.”
Participants have the chance to bid on artisan or signed bowls that also come with a dose of symbolism.
“When you think of an empty bowl, you think of hunger,” Riffle says. “That ties back in to our mission and allows us to share our mission with some of our biggest donors and supporters.”
“It really is scary when you think of how many Arkansans go hungry,” Jay said during last month’s interview, which took place the week before many schools would let out for spring break. “When you think about how many kids who count on the schools for their meals and who next week will be without, they don’t know where their food is coming from. That’s scary.”