Thursday, December 31, 2020
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started early this year, local foods banks have served Carroll County residents in need. Thats one thing that will stay the same going into 2021, several food bank representatives reported.
Flint Street Fellowship
Karen Timm, executive director of Flint Street Fellowship Food Bank in Eureka Springs, said the food bank is still open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. No one can come into the building to get their food, Timm said, so volunteers hand out food at the front door.
A lot of places have a drive-thru, but we just dont have that ability so folks are coming to the front door, Timm said. Were making sure everyones wearing masks and were doing the distancing. Its been getting busier the last month or so.
Teachers in the Eureka Springs School District will have extra time every week to help virtual learning students until the end of the school year.
On Dec. 14, the Eureka Springs School Board voted to approve early dismissal every Wednesday until the end of the 2020-21 school year. Superintendent Bryan Pruitt explained that teachers requested extra time on Wednesday to work with virtual learning students, saying students who learn on-site would be dismissed at 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday.
That way, our teachers will be online by 2 p.m. and theyll have an hour and a half to work with our virtual students through Zoom, phone calls or email, Pruitt said. Well do that for the spring semester only. I recommend we pass that.
The Holiday Island Elks Lodge No. 1042 is making sure everyone in Carroll County has a warm coat for the winter.
Lodge secretary Al Selleck said the Elks recently donated coats, socks and blankets to Flint Street Fellowship, a food bank located at 28 Flint St. in Eureka Springs. Thats part of an ongoing coat drive, Selleck said.
Weve given Flint Street gently used coats and blankets and winter garments, Selleck said. They take anything coats, scarves, winter hats. The chairman has collected more than 350 garments over the last month.
The coat drive started in October, Selleck said, and hes impressed to see how successful it has been. He encouraged anyone who would like to donate to the coat drive to call 479-253-9783, saying the lodge isnt operating at its regular hours because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lodge is open on Tuesday and Thursday, Selleck said, and is offering a light meal on Wednesday night.