Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hunger A Problem In Region

By JOHN MILLER

There is no sight more heartwrenching than the sight of a hungry child.

And hunger is not something occurring in unheard of third world countries. Hunger exists in the United States, and in Arkansas.

In fact, according to Bill Wehner, with the Arkansas Rice Depot of Little Rock, an estimated 143,000 families in Arkansas can't properly feed their children.

Wehner said the Rice Depot is a hunger relief organization begun 15 years ago. At this time, he said, people got together to help fight hunger in Arkansas.

The idea was rice was available in churches. Arkansas is the nation's top producer of rice, growing 40 percent of all rice grown in the U.S.

Rice, he said, is also easy to store, has a long shelf life, is nutritious and fills an empty stomach. It is also easy to prepare.

The project began using brown rice, but this didn't go over well. Then the long-grain white rice all are familiar with was used. Members of the Rice Depot went to producers asking the farmers to donate part of their crops.

Last year, Wehner said, farmers donated 125,000 pounds of rice, with another 125,000 pounds having to be purchased because of the overwhelming need.

Now, the Rice Depot is a Christian food bank, handling all kinds of foods and helping with 250 church pantries.

Wehner said there are about 50 school base programs through the Rice Depot.

"We're a faith based organization," he said. "We believe no one should go to bed hungry."

Wehner said people are familiar with the sight of starving children in third world countries from commercials on television. However, he said, children usually die of heart failure before they actually starve to death.

According to Wehner, when a person begins starving, they are unable to think clearly, their blood flow slows and muscle development shuts down. In addition, the body's life support systems begin shutting down which eventually results in death.

There are people in Arkansas, he said, who wish they were dead instead of slowly starving. They have lost all hope, he continued, and aren't able to feed themselves and their families. Because of their education and skill levels, they are forced to work at low paying jobs.

Many of these people are too proud to ask for help themselves. The hungry, Wehner said, in several instances are found through churches.

In cases of the elderly, they often have to choose between buying food or medication.

When the Rice Depot first opened, its initial home was in an old funeral parlor with no heat. Wehner said food was literally given away on the street to the needy.

"Hunger is not acceptable," he said, "even though people don't want to believe there are hungry in Arkansas or America."

The Rice Depot has a program called Food For Kids. Under this program, Wehner said, children are given foodstuff they can prepare at home by themselves, and are provided with backpacks.

Hopefully, he said, this program can be expanded statewide so no student will be hungry. This program is operated by school officials, counselors, nurses and principals.

"There is no reason a child should be forced to join a gang or pick up a gun and be without hope," he said. "A lot of children in our society have lost hope. We're losing our future."

Wehner said in 1996 the Rice Depot gave out 2.6 tons of food. This food is given at no charge to the recipients.

The depot is supported, he said, through churches, civic organizations, businesses and private individuals. Of the money donated, 85 percent is used to purchase food.

There are three people on staff at the Rice Depot, Wehner said, doing everything they can to make sure the doors stay open so they can continue giving out food to the needy.

"It's a great organization," he said. "But we need help. Hunger relief is vital."