At the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, students are continually encouraged to consider how design can address broader social challenges. These conversations often raise big questions about responsibility and community impact — questions that can sometimes feel overwhelming when the issues at hand are so large.

For fifth-year architecture students Sydney Winkler and Macy Watson, the recent changes to the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits made those conversations feel especially urgent. Instead of thinking of this problem as too big to tackle, they saw an opportunity to act. Together, they launched a schoolwide food drive from Nov. 3-14 to provide direct, tangible support to individuals and families in Northwest Arkansas who may be facing increased food insecurity this season.

"My peers and I often find ourselves in conversations about social issues but sometimes end up feeling zoomed out and somewhat helpless when it comes to large-scale challenges," said Winkler, of Houston, Texas. "This food drive became one small way to turn those conversations into action."

Food insecurity is a significant and growing concern across Arkansas and within Northwest Arkansas. According to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank website, nearly one in five households in the state struggles to access enough food, and more than 100,000 people in Northwest Arkansas are considered food insecure. Many people are often one unexpected expense away from not knowing where their next meal will come from. With the recent holds on SNAP benefits, even more families may be facing increased strain, especially as the holiday season approaches.

"This is definitely just a Band-Aid to a much larger problem we have here in Arkansas, but maybe this is a way we can get one step closer to figuring out a long-term solution or at least start having some conversation around the issue," said Watson, of Henderson, Texas.

Organizations like the NWA Food Bank and LifeSource International play a critical role in meeting this need by distributing millions of meals each year through local partner agencies. This food drive helps support that work and allows students, faculty and staff at the Fay Jones School to make a direct, immediate impact in the community.

"We have leaned on the design community within the Fay Jones School, which has always been rooted in collaboration, involvement and social stewardship," Winkler said. "This food drive is a small reflection of that foundation and a way for us to use the skills and mindset we have built here to support our community."

The food drive takes place from Nov. 3-14, with donation drop-off locations in both Vol Walker Hall and the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation. In Vol Walker Hall, contributions can be placed on the first-floor collection table, where donations will go directly to support the NWA Food Bank. A second collection site will be located in the lobby of the Anthony Timberlands Center, located along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Donations collected there will support LifeSource International, a Fayetteville-based organization providing food assistance and essential resources to local families.

Students, faculty and staff — within the school and from across the U of A campus — are encouraged to donate nonperishable items, particularly goods that can support holiday and everyday meals. Both partnering organizations also welcome monetary donations, which allow them to purchase fresh and high-need items in bulk, making even small contributions go further in meeting community needs. Those monetary gifts can be made on the organizations' websites.

Any students, faculty or staff who may be experiencing food insecurity should also be aware of the local resources available to them. The U of A Full Circle Food Pantry, located in Walton Residence Hall, offers free groceries, hygiene items and household supplies to anyone with a UARK ID, with flexible pickup hours throughout the week.  

LifeSource International, located across S. Lt. Col. Leroy Pond Avenue from the Anthony Timberlands Center in Fayetteville, provides community meals, pantry services and family resources to local residents. Watson noted the opportunities that come with having LifeSource so close by, including potential volunteer efforts. She hopes the proximity will help foster a strong relationship between the school and the organization, giving students meaningful ways to give back to the community.

"I hope this shows other students how easy it really is to help others," Watson said. "We have more of an impact than we sometimes realize."

Additionally, the NWA Food Bank partners with organizations across the region and maintains an online directory to help individuals find nearby food assistance locations. These resources exist to support our campus and local community, and reaching out for help is always welcomed and encouraged.

"We hope that by starting this initiative, we can encourage others in our school to see that small, localized actions can make a real difference — and that design thinking can begin with care, empathy and connection," Winkler said.