The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank of Springdale said Tuesday that it received a $3.5 million grant from the Alice L. Walton Foundation to support two strategic initiatives.
Most of the money — $3 million — is a matching gift to support construction of the food bank’s distribution center in Lowell.
The remaining $500,000 will support the purchase and distribution of healthy foods in the region over a two-year period.
“The Alice L. Walton Foundation’s thoughtful approach to this investment will benefit our community in many ways,” food bank CEO Kent Eikenberry said in a news release. “We are grateful for this partnership to ensure greater access to healthy foods while encouraging other members of our community to consider their own investment in our future.”
The food bank’s new Lowell campus will house all its operations, including a 82,425-SF distribution center and a “teaching garden.” The nonprofit said the facility will support expanded capacity, new programs and a 60% increase in distribution of nutritious food.
The Walton grant will match donations to support construction dollar-for-dollar up to $3 million.
“Hunger is an ongoing struggle for too many of our neighbors in Northwest Arkansas, and access to food choices that promote a healthy lifestyle can be limited,” Walton said in a news release. “The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank plays a critical role in addressing these issues, and I welcome everyone in our community to join us in the campaign to provide food for today and hope for tomorrow.”
The food bank is collecting donations for its expansion under its “Food For Today. Hope For Tomorrow” capital campaign, which so far has raised $20.4 million of its $25 million goal.
The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was founded in 1988 to provide hunger assistance across Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll counties. In 2021, it distributed more than 14 million pounds of food and provided 11.3 million meals in the region.
Founded in 2017, the Alice L. Walton Foundation “works to enhance the quality of life for individuals through providing access to offerings that improve well-being and create diverse and inclusive communities.”
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