VIDEO: The Hoxie Police Department and Fire Department are engaging in some friendly competition for a worthy cause. EBT and SNAP benefit thefts are on the rise in Arkansas, and Hoxie has been affected, too. Investigator Jason Bristow with the Hoxie Police Department said that they have received several reports about the issue. โWe have been taking numerous reports from folks coming in. Their benefit card is showing a zero balance where it had hundreds of dollars on it just immediately prior, and they are just completely zeroing the cards out,โ Bristow said.
Bristow said this issue is hard on a human level. โItโs heartbreaking, weโre all human, we all have emotions, and you can really tell that some of these people, that they are not sure how they are going to feed their families for the rest of the month,โ Bristow said.
The Hoxie Police and Fire Departments have joined forces in a Battle of the Badge Food Drive that will use the local food bank to help these victims. Hoxie firefighter Nathan Blair said they are ready for this opportunity. โI do not know anyone affected by it, but Iโm always willing to help people affected by it,โ Blair said. Bristow said that the food drive will gather donations, and that every little thing will help. โWe are looking for canned goods, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal, crackers, non-perishables, your basic food pantry items,โ Bristow said. โSome of these folks donโt have the means to cook; they may only have a microwave or something like that.โ The food drive will begin July 28 and end Aug. 11. All donations benefit the local food bank.
