Jonesboro Food Pantry Reports 300% Surge in Demand Amid Rising Costs

JONESBORO, Ark. — Demand at the Jonesboro Helping Neighbors Food Pantry has tripled in the past year, leaving volunteers strained as they work to meet the needs of the community.

Pantry coordinator Elizabeth Ivener noted that the increase reflects the broader economic challenges families are facing.

“I think in the last year it’s been a tremendous increase,” Ivener said. “We have seen a 300% increase in families served this year over last year over the first nine months or so, and I think that has a lot to do with what’s going on in the economy.”

According to volunteers, 2,294 households currently rely on the pantry for assistance. In September alone, more than 800 families sought help, with 81 of them being first-time clients.

Ivener said many come to the pantry when unexpected expenses arise, such as high utility bills, car repairs, or rising gas prices.

“Some of these people don’t come every month,” she explained. “They come when they get a big light bill or they have a big repair bill on their car or when they’re buying gas for that car. So they may not come every month, but they feel comfortable coming when they do need to come.”

The pantry’s drive-thru model has also been designed to help clients feel more at ease. Ivener recalled a young man who expressed his gratitude for the set-up, saying it spared him from sitting in a waiting room with others who might be in greater need.

“The fact that we have a drive-thru allows clients to feel more autonomous. They don’t have to sit in a room with other people,” Ivener said.

In addition to providing food, the pantry staff and volunteers work to connect families with other forms of assistance.

“We realize that food is not the only need that these people have,” Ivener said. “And although we’re not a social service agency, we do our best to connect with our clients when we see that they have a need for an agency that can help to meet their needs.”

As economic challenges persist, the pantry continues to serve as a vital resource for families throughout Jonesboro and the surrounding community.