Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Executive Summary
Project Title
Food Pantry
Contact Person
Pat Campbell, CJCOHN Coordinator
Personal:

(501) 315-4692

Warehouse: (501) 776-2912

Fax:

(501) 778-8773

Email:

lthastings@ualr.edu

Applicant Information
Lindsay Hastings, CJCOHN Grant Writing Intern
103 East Elm Street
Benton, AR 72015
Program Summary
CJCOHN consists of about 100 volunteers representing about 12 churches. The group was
formed through the Saline County Ministerial Alliance. Ministers felt the need to coordinate and
respond to needs in the area in a responsible way. Agencies, schools, and other professionals
were limited in what they could do, either through government regulation, long waiting periods,
or in emergency situations. The churches were being called on to handle these problems. Some
of them were bigger than one or two churches could handle, so the ministers decided to pool
their resources, join together, and handle the referrals together.

Requests range from food, clothing, toiletries, rent, utility assistance, lodging, gasoline, and
medical prescription assistance, to more long range types of cases that involve personal support
and friendship for families through crisis situations. Our aim is to enable hurting people to help
themselves by providing assistance during a time of emergency or crisis in their family or by
referring them to the agency that can provide the services they need. This means that we must
keep up with agencies and their programs.

Our funding comes through private donations and donations from local churches. Guidelines for
donations are offered to the churches, but are not mandatory for participation. Other funds come
through a yard-sale sponsored by our organization and our annual Hunger Hike. All staff persons
are volunteers, and all workers are volunteers. Food, clothing, and other household goods are
donated by members of the community.

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CJCOHN activities have been documented since 1976. These reports indicate numbers of
persons and households served.

The leadership of CJCOHN is shared by the member churches and changes each year. This year,
2013, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church is the sponsoring church with Pat Campbell serving
as Coordinator of the CJCOHN board of directors. The board consists of one voting member
from each church.

CJCOHN welcomes all churches and other organizations in Saline County to share in this
ministry. Please call Pat Campbell (501) 315-4692 for more information.

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Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Introduction
CJCOHN (Churches Joint Council on Human Needs) is a coalition of churches from all
denominations in Saline County, Arkansas that provides impoverished members of the
community with food, clothing, and utility assistance. Their board of directors consists of one
person from each of the fourteen churches involved in the organization, with the executive
director and sponsorship position rotated annually among the churches.
Churches involved include Calvary Baptist, Centerpoint, First Baptist, First Christian,
First Presbyterian, First United Methodist of Benton, First United Methodist of Bryant, Highland
Heights, Mount Carmel United Methodist, Our Lady of Fatima, Parkview United Methodist,
Salem United Methodist, St. Matthews Episcopal, and Spring Creek Baptist. Each church is
charged monthly dues of $100 membership, $150 maintenance and 10 cents per church member.
CJCOHN activities have been documented since 1976 and monthly activity reports have been
maintained since January of 1990.
CJCOHNs annual projects include a Christmas Basket program, Hunger Hike, Senior
Supplement program, Pancake Breakfast, and a Thanksgiving Prayer Service. Lynda
Hollenbeck, of The Saline Courier, reports that last year the Christmas baskets were provided to
approximately 900 Saline county families in need. Last fall marked the 27th Annual Hunger Hike
for CJCOHN. The 5K non-competitive walk/run/jog is free of charge. Hikers are asked to gather
donations from friends, family and businesses to donate to CJCOHN. Last year, proceeds from
the Pancake Breakfast went toward the reconstruction of the CJCOHN storage barn. They sell
raffle tickets at the event for $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
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CJCOHNs food pantry operates twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM
to 2:00 PM. Located in downtown Benton, approximately 10-15 Food Pantry Volunteers gather,
package and distribute the food each day of operation. CJCOHN serves about 1,000 low-income
individuals each month with food baskets containing approximately one weeks worth of food.
Items included in baskets vary depending on donations but generally consist of peanut butter, 5-7
cans of non-perishables, a loaf of bread, fruit, vegetables, and some sweets. The food is
distributed according to the number of people per family. Large families receive twice as much
food. The goal of the Food Pantry is to help prevent Saline Countys low-income families
suffering from hunger.

Hastings

Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Needs Statement
CJCOHN seeks to support low-income Saline county residents by providing them with
food and other basic needs such as emotional support, utility payments, clothing, and toiletries.
CJCOHN was started by local ministers who wanted to collaborate to respond to needs in the
Saline County area in a responsible way.
Referrals to CJCOHN come from other organizations such as Social Services, Public
Health, Red Cross, Central Arkansas Development Center, police and fire departments, public
schools, the governors office, and Benton Services Center. We also advertise in local church
bulletins.
Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation at 17.7% (Haynes).
According to 2009 Arkansas Census statistics, there are approximately 9,106 people living below
the poverty threshold in Saline County alone, and of these, 3,066 are unemployed. According to
the Current Population Survey of 2011, the number of people in poverty nationally rose for four
consecutive years (Hilights). CJCOHN has worked with local churches to provide these families
with food since they began in 1976. However, as the poverty rate increases, the request for
assistance from families is urgent.
Twenty-four percent of Saline County's residents are children under the age of 18 (Saline
County, Ar Census Statistics). These children and families need a reliable source of food.
CJCOHN understands that hungry children cannot learn and that sometimes the money runs out
before the end of the month (APCO Insight). We are requesting $2,500 for our food bank to ease
the burden of Saline Countys hungry.
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Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Food Pantry
Project Description
The goal of the Food Pantry is to help 1,000 low-income Saline County residents by
providing food at Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN). Individuals making less
than $11,490 a year are eligible with income restrictions going up approximately $4,020 per
household family unit.
Referrals are provided through local churches, Social Services, the Counseling Clinic,
Public Health, Saline Memorial Hospital, Red Cross, Central Arkansas Development Council,
The Senior Adult Center, day cares, police and fire departments, public schools, the governors
office, Benton Services Center, and United Way.
CJCOHN is currently providing about a weeks worth of food (5-7 cans of nonperishables, 1-2 jars of peanut butter, sweets, a loaf of bread, fruit, and vegetables based on how
much has been donated) per household on a monthly basis. Food Pantry Volunteers buy food
from local grocery stores, pick up food from food banks, and divide the food into baskets for
distribution. Food is distributed according to the number of people per family. Large families of
four or more receive twice as much food.
CJCOHNs Food Pantry is open every Tuesday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
except on Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter holidays. The goal is to help low-income families
in Saline County by providing them with nourishment. Our goal is simple, but it provides great
relief for those in need.
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The goal of this grant proposal is to expand the number of low-income families in Saline
County receiving food from CJCOHNs Food Pantry during 2013-2014. To ensure that the goal
is met, we must recruit and train 10-15 Food Pantry Volunteers for each day of operation.
Volunteers will transport, package, and distribute the food. Then, they will collect, inventory and
package the food donations. Finally, the food is provided to 1,000 low income individuals who
request assistance and meet CJCOHN criteria. Baseline data will be established, using a filing
system, to track donations, packaging, and distribution each month.

Hastings

Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Evaluation Plan
The evaluation for CJCOHN's food pantry will focus on two areas: (1) the impact of the
program itself and (2) the satisfaction of volunteers involved. To insure that the food pantry is
meeting its full potential, the CJCOHN board will meet monthly to evaluate their progress using
the data collected. The following plans for evaluation directly correspond with our goals and
objectives.
Objective

Methods

Data Collection Tools

1.1 Provide food to 1,000 low

income individuals who request
assistance and meet CJCOHN
criteria.

Case Worker will meet with

potential clients to complete
CJCOHN Service Application.
Upon completion, CJCOHN will
file all records of Service
Applications received.

Tallying # of CJCOHN Service

Applications received, # of
Service Applications filled, and
# of Service Applications
denied service due to
insufficient funds or lack of
food.

1.2 Recruit and train 10-15 Food

Pantry Volunteers to transport,
package, and distribute food to
1,000 individuals each month.

Food Pantry Director will recruit

and coordinate Food Pantry
Volunteer training and record
hours donated.

Sign-in sheet to document

training attendance and hours
of time donated. Annual survey
to assess their volunteering
experience.

1.3 Collect, inventory, and

Food Pantry Volunteers will
package food donations for 1,000 collect, inventory and package
food donations for 1,000
individuals each month.
individuals each month.

Food Pantry Volunteers will

record the number of each food
item donated bi-weekly in the
food baskets distributed using
Food Resources Forms.

1.4 Establish baseline data by

utilizing a filing system to track
donations, packaging, and
distribution each month.

An alphabetical filing system

will be used to keep Service
Applications in order of Clients
last name. Food Resources
Forms will be filled out each
Tuesday and Friday by the
CJCOHN Chairperson.

CJCOHN Chairperson will

perform Food Resources Form
and Service Application counts to
track food donations, packaging,
and distribution each month.

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CJCOHN Chairperson will analyze compiled data to see that they have a sufficient
number of volunteers and enough food to distribute to 1,000 individuals monthly. The
Chairperson will analyze the acquired data on a monthly basis to confirm that they are providing
enough food to impact 1,000 individuals monthly and to ensure that volunteers are not
overwhelmed with the required tasks.
Monthly evaluation reports will be distributed by the CJCOHN Chairperson to
CJCOHN's directors and staff involved. An annual report will be disseminated to the funding
agency, CJCOHN's partner agencies, and directors.
After the grant term is completed, the Food Pantry will be funded by CJCOHN church
membership dues and donations from local churches and individuals. The Food Pantry is an
important resource for Saline Countys low-income families, and it is built into CJCOHNs
annual budget. The annual fundraisers will also continue to be a source of income for the Food
Pantry. The treasurer will continue to make reports monthly and annually to maintain the Food
Pantrys operation budget.

Hastings

Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Budget Summary
Name of Organization: CJCOHN
Annual Budget: 2013
Date: April 25, 2013
Project Year: 2014
Line Item
Volunteers*
Travel
Food Packages
Total Costs

Volunteers*
10 Food Pantry Volunteers
Case Worker
Food Pantry Manager
CJCOHN Chairperson

Funder
$0
$250
$2,250
$2,500

Hourly
Rate
$9
$23
$15
$27

10

Organization
$65,923
$250
$95,502
$161,675

Project
Total
$65,923
$500
$97,752
$164,175

Total Hours
416
416
416
416

Total
$38,850
$9,476
$6,365
$11,232

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Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Budget Justification
1. Volunteers...$65,923
The total for this line item consists of four in-kind contributions made by the
organizations volunteers. Hourly wages of similar positions were multiplied by 416 (the
number of hours per year the pantry is in operation).
10 Food Pantry Volunteers$38,850
Case Worker..$9,476
Food Pantry Manager$6,365
CJCOHN Chairperson...$11,232
2. Travel.$500
This covers gasoline for weekly transportation of food.
3. Food Baskets..$97,752
This is the total needed to supply a weeks worth of food to 1,000 individuals monthly.
Money to pay for food baskets is brought in from church membership dues, donations,
and annual fundraisers.
4. Total Costs.$358,685
The total cost is the sum of lines 1-7.

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Churches Joint Council on Human Needs (CJCOHN)

Works Cited
APCO Insight. Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strengths Teachers Report. No Kid Hungry:
Share Our Strength. C & S Wholesale Grocers. Web. 20 Apr. 2013
Davis, Brent. Extraordinary People are all around us in Saline County. The Saline Courier, 28
Sept. 2012.
Haynes, Phyllis. Hunger 101. Arkansas Food Bank. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.
Highlights. United States Census Bureau. Web. 2 Feb. 2013
Hollenbeck, Lynda. Renovations completed at CJCOHN food barn. The Saline Courier, 12 Mar.
2012. Web. 1 Feb 2013.
Hollenbeck, Lynda. Saline Ministerial Alliance holds open Thanksgiving service at Butler
Auditorium. The Saline Courier, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2013
Saline County, Ar Census Statistics. Find The Data. Web. 14 Feb. 2013
The 26th Annual Hunger Hike. The Saline Courier, 9 Oct. 2011. Web. 1 Feb. 2013.

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