Make an
impact today

In Helena, Arkansas, a powerful movement is underway – one that promises to reshape our community's access to healthy food, create economic opportunity, and foster a vibrant hub for social connection. This is the vision of Big River Grocery (BRG), a groundbreaking food cooperative poised to transform Downtown Helena.

The Challenge: A Community in Need

Arkansas is the most food insecure state in the nation.  Phillips County, where Helena is located, ranks highest in food insecurity in Arkansas. A significant portion of its population lives below the poverty line, and many face limited access to fresh, healthy food. Currently, over $6 million in grocery sales leaves our community annually.  This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a serious issue, reflected in Phillips County’s ranking as the least healthy in the U.S.. The truth is, "you are WHERE you eat".

For those without a car – nearly 40% of households in our target trade area – the choices for food are often limited to gas stations or dollar stores, neither providing adequate access to fresh, nutritious options. Helena desperately needs a solution that is "of, by, and for" its own people.

The Solution: Community Driven Creative Model

Big River Grocery is that solution. Our project embraces the cooperative business model, a democratically controlled and community-owned grocery store where members – local residents, workers, and supporters – have a direct voice in decisions. This model ensures that the store will be uniquely tailored to Helena's specific needs.  A pivotal step forward came with the generous donation of the historic 1925 First Presbyterian Church building as the future home of BRG. This beautiful, century-old structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is will become the home of Big River Grocery offering farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, local meats, baked goods, and affordable pantry staples. The building’s upper floors will provide flexible community space for performances, public gatherings, workshops, and other health-related services. This mixed-use approach will strengthen the long-term viability of the project as a whole.

This "Community Driven Creative Model" is aligned with recommendations from the Arkansas Governor's Food Desert Working Group, which advocates for community-led efforts and grant funding to address food access.

Your Investment: Powering Our Progress

Launching a project of this scale requires substantial financial backing. While Big River Grocery secured a crucial $150,000 Healthy Food Financing Initiative Planning Grant from the USDA – a testament to our viability and impact– this is just the beginning.  The donation of the building and a $50,000 endowment from the King Family helps position BRG to take critical first steps toward a full adaptive reuse of the building for a grocery store and other associated community-based uses.  Our professional partner Uncharted Philanthropy is launching a capital campaign that will seek out large grants and gifts from foundations, but we can make our case stronger in these applications by raising money from within the community.  If a potential funder is looking over hundreds of applications, and they are all “great ideas” one way that we can stand out is to show a certain degree of commitment from the community through memberships and donations.

We have a compelling story and we have the moral support of the community.  Now, we need to build up financial support from the community.  Your donation is not just a contribution; it's an investment in Helena’s transformation.