LOWELL, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — James Harvey has put in hundreds of volunteer hours at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank over the past few years, using his retirement as an opportunity to help his neighbors in need.
After retiring and moving to Northwest Arkansas about seven years ago, Harvey, 68, soon began volunteering at the food bank, driven by his previous work at a food bank in northwest Pennsylvania.
Harvey has volunteered at the NWA Food Bank for the past six and a half years, packing boxes of food sent to families around the region. In 2026 alone, he’s put in over 300 hours of work. He estimated that he’ll have worked about 380 volunteer hours by the end of the year.
Harvey is also a member of the “Club 100” at the NWA Food Bank, a recognition given to those who volunteer at least 100 hours in a calendar year. He has received this recognition every year since the initiative began in 2023.
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“This is a very solvable problem. It’s a problem that people can get in and help with and truly make an impact, because here at the end of the day, someone is going to get food,” Harvey said. “This is, I think, a great place to get involved to help solve a real problem where you can make a real difference.”
Harvey said he plans to continue volunteering at the food bank for years to come.
“I like to say food insecurity is a problem that I can help solve,” Harvey said. “We just had the elections, and a lot was discussed of the problems that we’re facing in this nation. The reality is I can’t do a lot about many of those things. All right. But I can do a lot about coming to this food bank and assisting with food insecurity.”
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