AT&T gives ‘Patrol Packs’ for distribution to needy

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Patrol Packs — bags of easy-to-prepare grocery items meant to be given out to those facing food insecurity — are now part of the arsenal of the Baxter County Sheriff’s Department.

Cathy Foraker, director of external affairs for AT&T Arkansas, recently delivered the first 25 Patrol Packs to the Sheriff’s Office. The packages are assembled and donated by AT&T through its “Believe Arkansas” program to combat hunger.

The Sheriff’s Office already had the Patrol Packs installed in its patrol vehicles, Sherriff John Montgomery said.

“We run into people on a regular basis (that are food insecure),” Montgomery told The Baxter Bulletin. “We’re excited to try this, and I think it can make a difference. We’re certainly anxious to try.”

The Patrol Packs contain items like peanut butter, easy-to-make skillet dinners, macaroni and cheese, pouches of tuna and easy-to-open canned goods.

“We had to think about it in case it’s just kids that are left home after school or whatever,” Foraker said. “It’s just things that are easy (to prepare) for a child. If it’s a family, hopefully they can make a meal out of it.”

“We’re out in situations where we see firsthand that the cupboards are bare,” Montgomery said. “Maybe there’s kids around, or whatever it may be.

“To be able to then say, ‘Here is some help,’ I just think that’s great.”

The Sheriff’s Office will receive 25 Patrol Packs each month from AT&T. There are no restrictions as far who receives the food kits, or paperwork to complete once they are handed out.

“We tried to make it as simple as possible for the officers,” Foraker said. “

Montgomery said he appreciated that the Patrol Packs did not come with a list of restrictions and instead relied on the deputies’ judgment to make the call when to hand them out.

“I’m not there. The officer may call me on the phone, but like I tell them, they are the one that is there (on the scene),” he said.