Healthy Connections made a powerful impact in the fight against food insecurity on Tuesday, as staff from the Hot Springs Central, Hot Springs Chippewa, and Hot Springs McAuley clinics came together for the 25th annual THV11 Summer Cereal Drive event at the Walmart Supercenter on Central Avenue.
Together, the teams donated 827 boxes of cereal and presented a $2,500 check to the Arkansas Foodbank, helping ensure that children and families across Arkansas have access to nutritious food during the summer months.
Healthy Connections’ Business Communications and Marketing Manager, Jeffrey Slatton, said the event was more than just a drop-off.
“Community, Compassion, and Excellence aren’t just slogans for us. Our Hot Springs teams lived those values today by showing up in a big way,” he said. “We weren’t just delivering cereal—we were showing who we are and what we stand for as an organization.”
A Morning of Impact and Visibility
The event was highlighted by live television coverage from THV11, including a segment during The Vine at Nine hosted by Tom Brannon. Healthy Connections staff were on camera, sharing the message and mission behind their involvement in the cereal drive.
“The partnership with THV11 and the Arkansas Foodbank allowed us to not only make an impact with our donations but to bring visibility to an issue that affects thousands of Arkansans,” Slatton said. “It was a chance to show our communities that we’re not just their healthcare provider—we’re their neighbor, their partner, and their advocate.”
Also joining the event were members of the Hot Springs Wiseguys arena football team, who helped represent the community spirit of the event. Healthy Connections proudly serves as the official medical provider for the Wiseguys. Learn more about this partnership at www.healthy-connections.org/wiseguys.
Why the Summer Cereal Drive Matters
The THV11 Summer Cereal Drive is now in its 25th year and has become one of the state’s largest initiatives aimed at addressing summer hunger. The need is real—many children who rely on school meal programs struggle to access regular meals when school is out. Donations from events like Tuesday’s help fill that critical gap.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Healthy Connections has spent more than 25 years delivering medical, dental, and behavioral health care to Arkansas families. But events like this demonstrate that care doesn’t stop at the clinic door.
“This is about being present,” Slatton said. “Being in the community, not just for the community. It matters when people see their providers out there working to make life better in every way—not just in the exam room.”
The Drive Continues
The Summer Cereal Drive is still underway, and it’s not too late to help. Donations of cereal are being accepted at all Healthy Connections clinics through June 27. Every box helps provide meals to local families and supports the work of the Arkansas Foodbank and other partner organizations.
To learn more about Healthy Connections, our services, and how we’re working to support communities across Arkansas, visit www.healthy-connections.org/cereal.
