Organizations team up, prepare food basketsfor Arkadelphia families

T he Elrod Center is partnering with the Red River Baptist Association and Sodexho Catering to provide Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families.

There are 32 families receiving the baskets in Arkadephia and the Elrod Center is asking the students, faculty and staff at Ouachita to supply the food for the baskets. They are also asking for Ouachita students to help put the baskets together and to deliver the food to the families.

“We love working with the Red River Baptist Association because they really have access to families in great need and are able to do great things for them,” said Judy Duvall, the assistant director of the Elrod Center.

The holiday season causes most of us to reflect on an abundance of food and fun with our families. But for many families, especially in our community, it serves as a reminder of how hard life really can be.

Many students enjoy serving others during the holiday season and the ministry is one great opportunity for students to take advantage of.

After delivering food baskets to families with her daughter, Duvall reflected on the eye-opening experience.

“The families were just so appreciative of our service,” Duvall said, “and it was truly a blessing to be involved with this ministry.”

Most of the items going into the baskets are canned food items, but there is also a need for at least one baked item per basket such as breads, cakes, pies, brownies, cookies and muffins. The kitchen at the Elrod Center will be open during the week for students who would like to bake items for the basket.

The Elrod Center is also partnering with Sodexho who is in charge of providing turkeys for the baskets for the second consecutive year.

“I enjoy doing it,” Ron Cooksey, general manager of Sodexho, said, “I feel like it is something we should do to help the community because service is a part of Ouachita.”

The food needs to be dropped off at the Elrod Center by Friday, Nov. 16 at noon. The food will be delivered on Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20.

For more information on this project contact Judy Duvall at duvallj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5320.