Foundation grant provides security cameras for food bank

Janell Robertson, executive director of the Arkansas Community Foundation's Carroll County affiliate, presents a check representing an $800 grant to Jeanne Thompson, treasurer of the Loaves & Fishes Food Bank. (Submitted photo)

The Carroll County Affiliate of the Arkansas Community Foundation provided an $800 grant for security cameras at Loaves & Fishes Food Bank of the Ozarks Inc.

The grant comes after a thief recently broke into a shed behind the food bank and stole a weedeater. The thief also turned off the electricity in the shed, which shut off one of the food bank's walk-in freezers and resulted in the loss of 20 cases of frozen meat.

"It was so disheartening to the volunteers for the criminal activity to occur," Thompson said. "Everything we have is donated and nearly all comes from the good folks of our county. It was given to be a blessing to those in need and to have things destroyed hurts. However, since we have received this grant, others have brought food and others have given generously. All this proves how committed folks are to seeing that our friends and neighbors do not go hungry."

Loaves & Fishes is located opposite the Berryville Cemetery on Bunch Springs Road. Its operating hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays. Clients need picture identification, proof of Carroll County residency, and are required to report household income. Income-eligible recipients are served once monthly. The food bank's telephone number is 870-423-4246.