Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Jonesboro nonprofit is preparing to launch a food pantry to help public school students in Craighead County, and it needs the community’s help to stock its shelves.
Bianca Palmer is the founder and director of SHE Inc., a nonprofit that mentors and guides girls in grades 6-12 through providing enrichment opportunities. It also provides ways for high school students to earn their 75 hours of community service required to graduate.
Now, the organization is launching Pantry145, a food distribution center dedicated to helping combat food insecurity in public schools.
“My heart is definitely with kids. I do not believe that children should be coming to school hungry. Children should not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” Palmer said.
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To fill the pantry’s shelves before its official launch, it is conducting a food drive in the first week of November, inviting businesses, schools, churches, and community members to rally and collect food for the pantry.
Needed items include nonperishable items such as peanut butter, canned goods, rice, pasta, oatmeal, fruit snacks, ramen noodles, bottled water, etc. Palmer said donations of hygiene products such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, soap, feminine hygiene products, and more, will also be accepted.
Those wishing to donate can contact Palmer at 870-819-1190, at she.145org@gmail.com to arrange a donation pickup time, or can drop off donations at 5312 S. Caraway Road in Jonesboro.
As the pantry’s operations expand, Palmer said she would like to host community meal around Thanksgiving but said that likely would not happen until 2027. While the pantry itself is mostly geared to serve public school students, Palmer said community members needing food will not be turned away.
“Kids are our future, and one of the things that I believe in is making Heaven crowded, and somebody has to be a bright light,” Palmer said. “My part is to be able to be a light here in the community of not just Jonesboro, but in the state of Arkansas.”
To learn more about SHE Inc., click here.
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