As I begin this column titled “The Role of the Food Pantry,” please allow me to make a confession. While I knew our church, Central Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas, had a food pantry, I did not know much about it, other than we provided help for needy people twice a month. When I did some research on this subject, I was really enlightened. If you have not done this, I suggest you do it at your earliest opportunity.

One thing I learned that is rather sad is that my home state of Arkansas leads the nation for food insecurity of our citizens. I know this is the reason there are so many food pantries, in addition to the one at our church, around our community and throughout the state. You can find a food pantry at the Northside Church of Christ, First United Methodist Church, Antioch Baptist Church, Grace Methodist Church, Faith in Disciple Church and these other organizations, Soul Food Café, Bethlehem House and the Salvation Army. If you or someone you love has ever been hungry and had no money to buy food, no doubt you can relate to this. This is truly a shame in the most prosperous nation in the world. We need to meet this need and help our citizens prepare for the future so this will never again be an issue.

          Our food pantry meets this afternoon, and I am going there to observe the process and talk with the director. I will report back when I return.

Well, I am back, and it was a very inspiring experience. I saw lots of my fellow church members who were there working in the pantry, and I learned a lot. Our church food pantry started in 2007, about 17 years ago. They meet every other week and serve about 120 families, and this translates into about 375 people who are served. When the people our church is serving first arrive, there are chairs set up, and normally our associate pastor Mike Lefler gives a brief devotional. People who are down on their luck are very receptive to the Gospel of Christ, and a couple of weeks ago one lady was saved.

          Something else that was exciting was this was not just food, as there were countless tables set up that contained clothes, shoes, and many other items. You could tell by looking at those who were there that they needed help and were grateful for it.

Let me summarize by saying there are about 200 food banks in the nation and just over 60,000 food pantries like those here in Conway. Our church buys food from the Arkansas Food Bank in Little Rock, and the money is recovered from donations, as our church is a very giving church. Individual donors should know that every $50 donated pays for about 500 meals.

Here is my suggestion for the future. If every school in our state and nation would recommend that parents of their students open an interest-bearing savings account and add to it on a regular basis from various sources, this will help students form the savings habit, and they will never again hurt for something to eat. I am going to suggest this to our governor.

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(Jim Davidson is an author, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. For a personalized copy of “Keep Your Fork” send $25 (includes P&H & TAX) to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Dr. Conway, AR 72034)