She used to buy food for others with her own money. Now her nonprofit feeds thousands.

Robert Medley, Fort Smith Times Record
·3 min read
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Charolette Tidwell works at the Antioch Youth & Family Center. Tidwell began a nonprofit to combat her hometown's hunger crisis in Fort Smith, Ark., by focusing on family nutrition, at-risk youth mentoring and elderly care.
Charolette Tidwell works at the Antioch Youth & Family Center. Tidwell began a nonprofit to combat her hometown's hunger crisis in Fort Smith, Ark., by focusing on family nutrition, at-risk youth mentoring and elderly care.

Charolette Tidwell is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.

She bought food with money from her own pocket at first. It was her way to start a life of helping others.

Today, Charolette Tidwell helps feed people in a time of inflation and growing food insecurity in Arkansas with donations to buy thousands of pounds of food a month.

Although she suffers from ALS, Tidwell continues to help deliver food to people who drive-thru for food pickup on Wednesdays each week. Her efforts feed 18,000 to 22,000 people a month with delivery, pickup and mass distributions in Fort Smith and the surrounding areas, Tidwell said.

After a pandemic, a year of inflation, and rising food costs that do not stop, Charolette Tidwell's Antioch for Youth & Family keeps on helping people stave off hunger.

Tidwell is USA TODAY's Women of the Year honoree from Arkansas.

Tidwell praised volunteers. "Remember Antioch has operated for 23 years with an all-community volunteer team to maximize buying power to secure food."

The volunteer model in practice was started because funding was hard to secure, she said.

"But the longevity of the concept has proven that more effort needs to be placed on the value of volunteerism," Tidwell said. "Not just in crisis moments but in day-to-day practice."

The Antioch Thanksgiving food giveaway was the biggest yet, in 2022. There were 300,000 pounds of food given away at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Fort Smith. The food included turkey, potatoes, carrots, onions, apples, milk eggs, desserts, can good, drinks, pinto beans, rice, peanut butter, oatmeal, macaroni, spaghetti, tuna and chicken.

At one event, the "Knock and Drop," more than 1,200 families in low-income apartments received 36,000 pounds of meat.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What are your guiding principles?

Trusting God and allowing him to be in charge. Attitude determines altitude.

Building community occurs when hope and a sense of belonging is established. Proven or willingness to acquire competence. Integrity. Respect for all. Equity. Plan in all aspects for the common good. These principles are interdependent and interconnected.

Charolette Tidwell poses with members of UAFS student organizations Men of Excellence and IDEAL Women during a campus kickball tournament held this spring in partnership with Antioch for Youth & Family.
Charolette Tidwell poses with members of UAFS student organizations Men of Excellence and IDEAL Women during a campus kickball tournament held this spring in partnership with Antioch for Youth & Family.

Who paved the way for you?

My parents, grandparents, church teachers, mostly within the African American community, with the exception of nuns at St. John the Baptist, and elementary school teachers with love and stern guidance.

Who did you pave the way for?

First, teaching children by example that there are no obstacles to deter them; all problems can be turned into possibilities. Secondly, by teaching adults by example that they have the responsibility to teach and mentor children. Thirdly, showing the entire community by example that we can become our brothers' keeper building a village of "caring."

Who do you look up to?

Those who selflessly give of themselves for the greater good, willingly, and without bias organizations.

Charolette Tidwell, founder of Antioch for Youth and Family, speaks at the Leadership Fort Smith Commencement event on July 15.
Charolette Tidwell, founder of Antioch for Youth and Family, speaks at the Leadership Fort Smith Commencement event on July 15.

What is your definition of courage?

The meaning of courage is mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Courage is the quality of being ready and willing to face negative situations. Courage is admitting we can't cope alone. Courage is knowing and admitting we screwed up. Courage is being truthful with oneself. Courage is willingness to tackle difficult situations with mind, purpose and spirit despite fear.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas nonprofit battles inflation, COVID to fight food insecurity