Catholic Charities of Arkansas and St. Theresa School in Little Rock are working together to address food insecurity among needy families in southwest Little Rock.
St. Theresa School, with an enrollment of 245 students in preK3 through eighth grade, began operating a small food pantry in 2019-2020. Since then, the year-round pantry has been benefiting many families that primarily are low-wage-earning.
Recently, thanks to a $ 20,000 grant from Catholic Charities USA, St. Theresa is expanding its food pantry area and capability by adding two commercial refrigerators, a commercial freezer, a heavy-duty stainless-steel work table, plus countertops and wire shelving units — all of which will enable school staff and volunteers to handle a wider variety of perishable/cold-storage food items, as well as non-perishable supplies for assembly and distribution.
Currently, every Friday from noon to 3 p.m., lead staff member Michele Harter and volunteers load backpacks with food staples and snacks to be carried home by children to their families who have asked for assistance. Principal Kristy Dunn estimates the school has been assisting, on average, about 120 to 150 people a week. However, if the school can increase its available food, she anticipates that the population might expand to 200 or more.
Catholic Charities of Arkansas and St. Theresa School are members of the Arkansas Hunger and Relief Alliance, and the hope is that funds can be raised through Catholic Charities USA and other sources to increase the capacity of food pantries at other parishes and schools within the diocese.
