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In June of 1986 after the need for help had been presented by Dan Richardson of the Community Services Clearinghouse and other hunger relief agencies, the Crawford Sebastian Community Development Council Board approved the creation of a food bank to serve those counties. A start up grant from United Way of $7,302 was used to lease a 1000 square foot store front for offices and product storage with a membership of seven non-profit organizations. In September of that year a grant of $19,474 was obtained from the Arkansas Office of Community Services to provide a 14’ box truck and a walk-in cooler for the food bank.  

In May of 1987, the food bank became a part of the Second Harvest organization and formed a relationship with the Tulsa food bank to increase access to grocery products. By September of that year, the food bank was operating at break even with an established upward trend in financial and product donations. When that year ended the food bank had distributed 250,000 pounds of grocery products to 75 member agencies.  

In December of 1988, the need for more space prompted a move to a leased warehouse in an industrial park on the south side of town. The following year the food bank became a certified member of the Second Harvest network and was distributing 500,000 pounds to 91 agencies in seven counties.  

In January of 1990, the food bank moved to the current 32nd street location  a 10,000 square foot once foam cup factory and gradually expanded to two walk-in coolers and three walk-in freezers. Added some racking for palletized storage obtained a forklift and electric pallet jack for material handling. The operation was financially sound and now had five full time employees.    

In 2000, the food bank obtained a $50,000 grant from Con Agra for the purchase of an 18’ refrigerated box truck improving its food transport capabilities. That year distribution exceeded 1.5 million pounds to over 160 member agencies and covering seven counties.  

In 2005, the food bank changed its name to the River Valley Regional Food Bank and added another county to its service area. Distribution now reached 3.5 million pounds serving over 190 member organizations. In 2008 we received an $80,000 grant from Walmart for a new 22’ refrigerated box truck and Walmart Supercenters in our area began to donate products developing into a program yielding donations of about 10,000 pounds a week of quality grocery products. This is enough to provide approximately 8,000 meals we couldn’t provide before. By 2009, we were distributing 4 million pounds feeding on average 30,000 people a month through our member agencies.  

If you need further information, please contact Ted Clemons at tclemons@cscdccaa.org or call 479-785-0582.