Page 5 - OnThePath.Oct.2017

During a loss of a loved one, founder Linda Hodges realized a need in South Arkansas. Noticing
that the community has the pantries in place to serve those in need, the issue became that the pantries’ donations were limited. She then elicited help from a close friend, Amy Thomason, and her brother, James Carroll, who both undoubted- ly had the personalities and hearts to help. Since that initial meeting, the three formed a Facebook group and page that grew from just the three to over 900 members in one short month.
Currently they have over 1,000 members and are still growing. Experiencing the quick growth and community support, they now offer a website so members can locate information quickly at pantryfillers. org.
SAPF’s mission is to help those who help others by encouraging local residents to give and sup- port their local pantries by offering incentives for giving.
Their very first pantry was in September with Life Touch Hospice House in El Dorado. In less than 24 hours and with overwhelming com- munity support, they overfilled the pantry and then quickly moved on to their next pantry “victim.”
Midway through September, the next mission was to donate one month of food to the local ani- mal shelter, Union County Animal Protection Society. Entering with the initial goal of 3,600 pounds, as a group they raised over 3,700 pounds and made the lives of several aban- doned animals a little brighter.
Members come from every social economic background with one goal to help those in need.
They may quite possibly be your neighbors, your sales clerks or even your doctors.
How to help? Every month South Arkansas Pantry Fillers overfills a
Contributed photo
Pantry Fillers : Amy Thomason, from left, James Carroll and Linda Hodges are the South Arkansas Pantry Fillers found- ers. The three formed the organization by realizing the need in South Arkansas.
“Helping those who help others”
El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017 – 5
South Arkansas Pantry Fillers
nonprofit pantry that the members nominated through their Facebook group and page. Each of these pan- tries serve South Arkansas by feed- ing those in need. To encourage participation and to offer excite- ment in giving, they have a month- ly participation drawing for those who give and enter. The group has two donation collection sites each month, including the pantry of the
See PANTRY, Page 6
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