Jonesboro’s new “Pay It Forward” program aims to feed the local population

Little Rock, Arkansas – A new initiative in Jonesboro promises to feed several neighborhoods.

The initiative, called “Pay It Forward,” is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Karl and Paula Lowe. Martha and Vedas are the proprietors of the Roots and the catering company.

Paula Lowe claimed that a friend of hers who also owns a restaurant had informed her about a community feeding program he had implemented in his hometown.

“It was very inspiring. So, we came back here to Jonesboro with motivation to do an impact in our community,” she said.

The “Pay It Forward” program was developed by Karl and Paula to provide food to those who are in need.

“People that use SNAP, WIC, students that can’t afford meals on campus, homeless people. Whoever needs a meal that they’re on shelters, we can donate those meals to them,” she said.

According to Lowe, the meals will feature food that offers some level of solace to individuals who consume it. In addition, she claimed that many microwaveable meals aren’t nutritious, therefore she wanted to keep them nourishing.

“The foods that we are talking about is comfort foods, very southern, something that you will eat at home, made from scratch,” she said.

She claimed that she wanted to use her greatest strength, cooking, to benefit the community rather than raise money for it.

According to Lowe, you can feed someone a dinner by adding $10 to a bill at Roots or Martha and Vedas.

The Hispanic Center in Jonesboro will get the first delivery of meals, but according to Lowe, the goal is to go further.

“We would like to just change non-profits around downtown so people can come with all the confidence to get a meal,” she said.