Rotarians and community members are encouraged to provide canned meats and vegetables to fill the collection boxes as these staples do not remain on the pantry shelves, according to pantry representative Cindy Jackson. 

The Arkadelphia Rotary Club and the Arkadelphia-Sunrise Rotary Club are partnering with the Ecumenical Food Pantry, an interdenominational food pantry that operates in the city. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate by hosting collection boxes in their own businesses.

At the end of the month, representatives from the pantry will speak at a club meeting to build awareness for their efforts. All food will be sent to the pantry at this time. If you would like to participate, please contact the club at arkadelphia.rotary@gmail.com.

Collection Locations:
Club Meetings at Western Sizzlin
Arkadelphia Brookshire's Grocery
Henderson State University (Sturgis, East, Garrison Bookstore, Evans, Huie Library, and Reynolds)
Ouachita Baptist University (Hickingbotham Library)
Arkadelphia Town Hall (Administration, 2nd Floor)

Michael Don Fess, wrote his non-fiction book to make a contribution to the education of the existing younger generations and to prod future generations to think instead of blindly following their parent's path.  Recognizing that much of today's philosophical teachings are based on ancient conclusions made by men with limited knowledge, he explores new conclusions based on more recent discoveries. 

His most popular books are the Caribbean Mystery series beginning with "The Cruising Serial Killer," The Dancing With Politics series, all the way to number fifteen, "The Secret DNA Code," a cutting-edge novel. 

As an accomplished musician who prefers the more creative "Dixieland" style and a regional Hall of Fame Sculptor who crafts "suggestive" shapes, he penned these intriguing tales to share his creative thoughts.

Born in Haynesville, Louisiana, the eldest of six children, he married in college and raised four children who have produced fourteen wonderful grandchildren.  Growing up in Magnolia, Arkansas, he developed skills as president of his high school fraternity for two years and was selected for All-state band two years which resulted in a music scholarship for college.

An engineering major for three years at Southern Arkansas University, he had to switch to physics in order to graduate from Centenary College when he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana. 

He had a bicycle paper route at age nine and worked for his father, an electrical contractor, during high school.  He was employed as a junior engineer for an electric power company while attending night school at Centenary.  Upon graduation, he pursued a sales engineering career until he discovered the potential and the creative opportunities in developing real estate, a career that lasted over thirty five years in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Upon retirement, he formed the Red River Sculpture Society with six other artists and still creates his unique art.  Hobbies include tennis, website development, A Capella harmony, writing and arranging songs, and creative gardening. 

He and his wife have celebrated fifty-nine years of marriage and now live in Arkansas. After becoming a Master Gardener, he has served as Chairman of the Central Arkansas Horticultural Society and has been a speaker at Flower & Garden Shows. He is now a speaker at civic clubs and book signings.