National Park College's (NPC) Helping Hawks food pantry received generous donations from the Blue and You Foundation, Entergy, the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club (HSNP), the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation, and Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. These contributions included a commercial-grade refrigerator and freezer purchased by ACF, in-kind food donations from Grand Avenue United Methodist Church to stock the freezer, and a $2,000 donation from the Blue and You Foundation for food.
Sara Brown, President of the Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club, shared her pride in supporting the Helping Hawks initiative. “I am proud to represent an organization whose mission is to provide service to others. We actively seek opportunities to serve our local organizations by offering support, resources, and collaboration to meet the needs of our community. Many of our members have a deep connection to National Park College—whether as students, employees, board members, or volunteers. We wholeheartedly believe in the college’s mission and recognize the critical role it plays in the vitality of our community.”
Brown emphasized the importance of addressing food insecurity. “One of our Rotary Club’s key focus areas is education, which made supporting the Helping Hawks initiative an easy decision. We understand that food insecurity creates significant barriers to physical health, mental well-being, and social stability. By supporting Helping Hawks, we aim to remove this challenge for vulnerable students, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: attending class, completing their degrees, and breaking the cycle of poverty. Our club is honored to contribute to this cause and to stand alongside NPC in building a stronger, healthier, and more equitable community.”
Rebecca Pittillo, president of the Blue And You Foundation explained, “The Blue And You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is committed to building stronger, healthier communities. Food insecurity impacts one in five Arkansans – one of the biggest barriers to whole health in our state. The Helping Hawks initiative directly addresses the issue of food insecurity impacting students in the community. By supporting this initiative, we provide students with nutritious meals, allowing them to focus on their studies and reach their full potential,” said Pittillo.
Ed Franklin, lead volunteer for Grand Avenue United Methodist Church is a former executive director for the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, now Arkansas Community Colleges.
Franklin explained that Grand Avenue United Methodist Church decided to reach out to NPC as part of its outreach ministry. “Members of the church started meeting with staff members at NPC in July to see what student needs were and how the church might help. Over time, it was decided that one of the needs was The Helping Hawks Food Pantry. We determined to use part of our outreach ministry budget to purchase $500 worth of food to fill the pantry. We are also participating in other mission projects on campus ranging from coat donations for Career Pathways students to volunteer tutors for the learning center.”
“NPC students are a vital part of our community and contribute to the economy by filling jobs and serving in the community in many ways. Grand Avenue United Methodist Church members realize that the college and the students are vital to the economic health of the community, and all of us benefit from the students’ success,” added Franklin.
Nicole Herndon, Executive Director of the NPC Foundation, highlighted the impact of community support. “Through the Giving Tree grants with the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation, we were able to purchase a commercial-grade refrigerator and a commercial-grade freezer, allowing us to have capacity for frozen and nutritionally dense foods. The support from our community through grants and gifts has made a direct and meaningful impact on our students. Thanks to this generosity, our food pantry is helping ensure that no student has to go hungry while pursuing their education. It’s a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together.”
Pictured is Dr. Chuck Burke, assistant professor of Anatomy and Physiology and Helping Hawks Food Pantry advisor.