Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Community members experiencing food insecurity are invited to enjoy a free barbecue meal at Neighbors in Need NEA’s fifth annual Community Picnic.
During the free event, community members are invited to receive a BBQ dinner and connect with community vendors offering various resources. In addition, attendees will be able to take a plate of food home. Pulled pork, BBQ chicken, chips, potato salad, and baked beans will be served.
“It’s just a big need we saw in the community to help out people, to give them a leg up,” said Neighbors in Need NEA cofounder Brad Dillon. “It’s a great way to physically meet a need right then and alleviate that for maybe a couple of meals that we can help with.”
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Community vendors to attend include the Career Readiness Education and Skills Training (CREST) Center, the Democratic Party of Craighead County, and the Period Impact Project. Organizers will have bounce houses set up and music provided by DJ CC Production, which they said will create an afternoon of fun and fellowship.
Dillon added that while the event is for those in need, no one will be turned away. He added that organizers were expecting around 1,200 to 1,400 people this year.
For those wanting to help out, monetary donations can be made to the nonprofit’s Cash App here. Those who want to volunteer at the event can contact Dillon at 870-273-4389 in advance.
“It takes a lot of hands to distribute this amount of food,” Dillon said.
The Community Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Bernards Auditorium, located at 505 E. Washington Ave. Volunteers are asked to show up at 10 a.m.
“This is our small way of helping them get a free, hot meal,” Dillon said.
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