By Moe Ellis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A Facebook group allowed Northwest Arkansans to join and make Thanksgiving meals for low income Fayetteville families. Katherine Haack has been making meals for families since 2009. This year, she with help from others collected enough food for 5 families to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal.
“My goal this year was to have enough food for three families, but we ended up having five,” said Haack. “Actually we had a little left over to give.”
Food donations can be given through many different organizations around Northwest Arkansas, including the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry on the University of Arkansas campus. The pantry sets a budget aside to order turkeys to make Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. This Thanksgiving, over 100 baskets were given to Arkansas students, faculty, and staff.
“It’s really cool to give these baskets out and see that they are going to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving time with their family and not have to worry about getting food or anything for them,” said Food Drives Coordinator Kolten Long.
Haack said she will collect more meals for the Christmas season, and the Full Circle Food Pantry is now taking sign ups for Christmas meal bags.