Many generous people are making possible an outreach involving donations of food and clothing Saturday at the Pine Bluff Convention Center at Concourse D.
The Delta Network Food Bank is sponsoring the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Delta Network Food Bank Director Jacqueline Ross said. It affords toys, food boxes with non-perishable foods, and 10 pounds of chicken, clothes, shoes and other household items to needy people. She invites people to visit the Convention Center for the event.
“I am so elated to be able to work together with various organizations to provide assistance to low-income people in need,” Ross said. “We have witnessed such dire need. Our passion is to help the less fortunate.”
She credited volunteers from local businesses, schools, churches and community organizations for making the outreach possible.
The entertainment will be done by Velma and Ruthie as the Hosanna Puppeteers. Bishop Chester Thompson and the Kids Crusade Ministry of Camden will discuss the birth of Jesus Christ.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“It helps us to realize our vision is coming to pass,” Ross said. “We pay it forward. We are a community service organization. We will give crock-pots. We find many people do not have a means to cook if the gas is off. All the registration will be done on site. We expect to have enough for everyone while supplies last.”
Her husband, Louis Ross, is the chief executive officer of the Delta Network Food Bank. This is their 13th year of outreach prior to Christmas and a Saturday before Easter.
“We serve 13 counties in the Arkansas Delta, which has the highest poverty rates in this state,” Jacqueline Ross said.
The Delta Network Food Bank hosts health fairs, seminars, workshops, and participates in the United States Department of Agriculture summer feeding program. Ross noted that she invited incumbent Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth and Mayor-elect Shirley Washington.
She expects more than 1,000 registered adults plus children to come to the outreach.
For more details, people may call (870) 536-2424 or (501) 804-6253,