The Arkansas Rice Depot’s Phillips County food transfer enjoyed an extra set of helping hands Monday from Miss Lee County Rice, Chelsea Benson. Benson is continuing service to the Arkansas Rice Depot that began in September when she and six other county title-holders from the Miss Arkansas Rice program visited Little Rock to deliver a donation of over 44,000 pounds of rice to the Rice Depot. Arkansas Rice Depot’s Helena transfer is in its fourth month, and serves six pantries in Phillips County including Antioch Community Service, Barton Baptist Church, Family Center, Inc., Grace Community Food Pantry, Greater Power House and Haven of Rest. Volunteers from each pantry come to Grace Community Food Pantry once a month to receive their shipment of free food from the Arkansas Rice Depot. The Arkansas Rice Depot’s president and CEO, Laura Rhea, says she hopes to see the transfer grow as more churches and community organizations choose to fill the needs of hungry people in Phillips County. “Arkansas Rice Depot wants to make hunger a thing of the past. But we need your help,” she said. “If there is no food pantry serving the needs of the hungry in your neighborhood, and your church or civic organization wants to start a food pantry or soup kitchen, Arkansas Rice Depot can help by providing a significant portion of the food you need.” (Michele Page Photo)
