BENTONVILLE — Fifty-eight years ago the Kiwanis Club of Bentonville helped 15 local families in need by giving them food baskets on Christmas Eve.
The annual event was started by Guy Wilkerson, who also served as event chairman until two years ago. The tradition continued Tuesday, but without Wilkerson there. He died earlier this year, said Bob Sligar, current chairman.
“The man was phenomenal. He would be elated, I’m sure,” Sligar said of what Wilkerson’s reaction would be to see the event continue with strong community support. “He’s probably up in heaven with a big old grin on his face this morning.”
The event has grown and now serves between 500 and 600 families each year, Sligar said.
By The Numbers
Food Baskets
Each Christmas Eve the Kiwanis Club of Bentonville gives food baskets away to local families in need. Here’s some quick facts about the event.
First year: 1955
Families served in 1955: 15
Families served this year: Between 500 and 600
Volunteers: 75, included Key Club members, Boy Scouts and players from the Rogers High School football team
Monetary donations received: $4,000
Amount of food: More than 10,000 pounds
Source: Staff Report
“We just get gratification of helping those who need help,” he said.
About 75 volunteers battled the bitter 16 degree temperature to help pack and distribute the food baskets at the former Benton County Daily Record building downtown. Distribution started shortly after 8 a.m.
The amount of food a basket had depended on the size of a family — two people, three to four, five to six or seven to eight. Each basket included canned items such as corn and green beans, sweet potatoes, macaroni, bread, sweet snacks and a whole chicken.
Four Bentonville schools helped collect canned items, Tyson donated the chickens and the club received about $4,000 in donations for the event, Sligar said.
Kiwanis President Buz Moxon said it was difficult to find words for what the event meant after so many consecutive years.
It was and is a community effort, and it wouldn’t happen without the volunteers and donations, he said.
Katlyn McKinney, a Rogers resident, and Kayla Church, a Cave Springs resident, worked together to close boxes once they had chicken in them.
This was McKinney’s third year to volunteer and Church’s first.
“It’s nice to be able to help families in need,” McKinney said. Her mom is a Kiwanis member. “It’s so nice to see the joy on their faces every year.”
Church has volunteered with Cross Church’s Blessing Baskets at Thanksgiving before and wanted to volunteer for the Kiwanis Christmas event when her stepfather, who is a club member, told her about it.
“My stepdad told me about this, and it just made me want to do this because I like to help people,” she said. “Cross Church doesn’t do a Christmas Blessing Basket so I wanted to help in this way.”
It was also Melanie Taylor’s first year to volunteer at the food basket giveaway. It was an experience she wanted to have with her 12-year-old daughter, Paige.
“As blessed as we are, I think we need to give back to those who aren’t,” Melanie Taylor said.
Those receiving baskets went to the building while volunteers loaded their cars.
Libby Lyon and Ashley Pruitt pulled up in a vehicle together. They are neighbors at Havenwood, a single-parent transitional housing facility. Lyon has two children, ages 5 and 6. Pruitt has two children, ages 7 months and 10 years old.
“It’s awesome,” Pruitt said of what receiving the basket meant. She tried to hold back tears. “The generosity … ,” she began but couldn’t finish.
“It’s such a blessing that they can help,” Lyon pitched in.
“I’m like a waterfall over here,” Pruitt said, laughing while wiping tears away. “It’s nice to not have to worry about Christmas dinner.”