Harvest to hold drive-through Mobile Pantry

The Harvest Regional Food Bank will distribute 1,000 emergency food boxes to Texarkanaarea residents Tuesday through its drive-through mobile pantry event.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. at the Four States Fair Arena, 3700 E 50th St, Texarkana, Arkansas.

It will last until noon or until all boxes have been distributed.

Family food boxes distributed in Harvest’s mobile pantry program have a box of fresh vegetables, a box of shelf-stable pantry items and a box of frozen meats.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, Harvest has seen a 108% increase in food distribution.

CEO/Executive Director Camille Wrinkle said Harvest has attempted to increase its presence in the Texarkana community.

“Just like the rest of the country, Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas have suffered from economic downturns, resulting from COVID-19,” Wrinkle said. “Many people were out of work for several weeks and many people are still struggling. To add to that, several of our larger employers have either cut back on their staff, eliminated positions or decided to relocate.”

As schools closed, jobs were lost and families faced food insecurity, many for the first time, Harvest got to work addressing the need for hunger relief.

“We feel like this is a way to address food insecurity right here where it exists, and this is a way for us to be able to effectively reach the most people at one time,” Wrinkle said.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Harvest used its mobile food pantries mainly to reach the needs of rural communities. More recently, however, programs have been directed more locally.

“We want families to be able to prepare nutritious meals with the food they receive and this ‘bundle’ includes up to a month’s worth of much-needed healthy food,” Wrinkle said in a press release.

To ensure safe social distancing, recipients are asked to remain in their vehicle and follow direction of staff and volunteers upon entrance to the grounds.

You can enter from the 50th St entrance at Hwy 245/ Four States Fair Parkway in front of Bobby Ferguson Park (by the gazebo).

Harvest will also have a mobile pantry in New Boston, Texas, on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon. This event will be at the T&P Trail Head Park Pavilion & Fairgrounds (200 S Ellis Street).

Distribution for both events is limited to one box per household and two households per vehicle.