Cover photo credit: Cabot Area Chamber of Commerce
In the wake of recent hurricanes devastating North Carolina, a small business in Cabot, Arkansas, is stepping up in a big way. Panther Nutrition, led by owner Mary Friddle, is spearheading a local drive to collect essential supplies for those affected by the disaster. Through this effort, Friddle has partnered with Ground Force Humanitarian Aid, a grassroots organization on the front lines of recovery, and Red River Auto Group to ensure the aid reaches those in need.
“I wanted to make sure that the stuff we collect actually gets into people’s hands,” Friddle explained. “Some donation organization(s), you don’t even know where stuff is going.”
Friddle’s campaign started after she connected with Clint Roe of Ground Force, a humanitarian worker from Beebe, Arkansas, who has been actively assisting in hurricane relief. His hands-on approach gave her the assurance that donations from Cabot would make a tangible difference. “He is on the ground, he is doing this… they’re in physical contact, helping people. You know, they’re not collecting in a storage thing and taking credit for it, and someone else is handing it out,” Friddle shared.
Friddle has rallied several local businesses to help, turning them into donation drop-off sites across Cabot. These businesses include:
- VIP Nutrition
- Brew YaYa Coffee + Roaster
- Sage Tea & Treats
- Pea Farm Bistro
- Forbes & Associates
- Nene’s Dishes
- First Baptist Church of Cabot
“We’ve been so fortunate to have community support. Businesses have stepped up to be drop zones, and while it’s been a slow start, we’re collecting the right kind of supplies,” Friddle said. The donations they’re gathering aren’t the typical relief items like clothes or toiletries. “They don’t need clothes, they don’t need toothbrushes, they don’t need that stuff. This is like survival stuff. They need propane tanks, they need fencing, sleeping bags… They need stuff to cook on, they lost all of that.”
A significant boost to the effort came when Red River Auto Group donated $4,500 to rent a truck through the end of December, allowing Ground Force to continue their daily operations of delivering aid to remote areas. This donation covers the cost of a truck to move volunteers and supplies across the region.
“That night, we got the $4,500 check to get Clint and them [the truck]… I was like, unbelievable. That was amazing,” said Friddle.
The dealerships involved include Red River Ford of Cabot, Red River Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Heber Springs, Red River Pre Owned of Jacksonville, and Red River Toyota of Wynne. Each location has been instrumental in keeping the relief effort on track.
Panther Nutrition continues to accept donations, and the list of needed items changes regularly as Friddle stays in close contact with Roe. “The reason I talk to Clint every night is because we need updated lists,” she explained. “They’re still finding animals and they’re still finding people, you know.”
Some of the most urgently needed items include propane tanks, gas buddy heaters, extension cords, and basic cooking supplies. With winter approaching, these items are critical for families trying to survive harsh conditions in makeshift shelters.
Friddle and the Panther Nutrition team are calling on local residents to continue contributing. “I just know that if it happened to me, I would want someone to help me, and I think us giving back is a big deal,” Friddle said. The supplies collected in Cabot may be small in scale, but they are making a big difference to those on the ground in North Carolina.
As the holiday season approaches, Panther Nutrition’s relief drive is a reminder that small businesses and community efforts can have a lasting impact. Thanks to contributions from local businesses and Red River Auto Group’s financial support, including support from Kary Faught and Red River Accounting, the families in North Carolina are receiving the help they need to recover from this disaster.
For more information or to find out how you can help, contact Mary Friddle at Panther Nutrition in Cabot, or visit any of the participating drop-off locations around town.
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