Fordyce is now without a local grocery store after devastation temporarily closed the Mad Butcher.
Fordyce City Councilman and Pastor, Roderick Rogers, knew he had to do something to help his community during this difficult time.
“It just started with a vision to serve our neighbors after something, I mean, a tragedy like this,” Rogers said.
Rogers said he heard a call to help feed Fordyce and knew he had to get to work quickly, as the only grocery store was temporarily closed.
“We just wanted to shed some light on the dark situation, so we have partnered together with other people, just to make sure people of Fordyce have the resources and the food they need,” Rogers said.
The Mad Butcher was centrally located in the town, which made it easy for people with and without transportation to get to. That isn’t an option now, as the next store is a town over.
“A lot of our people don’t have transportation or the gas money,” Rogers said. “They can’t get to the Super Walmart or grocery store out of town, so we let them know that we’re thinking about them and take food to them.”
People from all over the state are donating groceries and necessities. Rogers and volunteers are accepting donations all week as they deliver and help load people’s vehicles with free food.
“We call it love and action, that is what it is,” Rogers said. “They just need a little help and we’re glad to do that for them.”
This is to honor the lives lost and help the survivors who have been affected heal one food pickup at a time.
“We’re just going to love our neighbors and we’re going to give, and we just want to make sure we respond with love and not hate,” Rogers said.
If you want to donate to the free food distribution center, you can drop off items at the Melvin Collins Sports Annex, 400 Short Street, Fordyce, AR 71742, between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m
Anyone with questions about donations or is a Fordyce resident and needs them, call Roderick Rogers at 870-250-2610.
You can also drop off Walmart gift cards or cash app monetary donations to $Roderick4D, and volunteers will get needed items.