Joe and Mary Lynn Copeland moved to Arkansas in 2005 and they decided to get involved with the Arkansas Foodbank; Joe through board service and Mary Lynn through volunteering wherever help was needed, from the office to the warehouse. From the beginning, their shared focus was childhood food insecurity, grounded in the belief that if children cannot eat, they cannot learn. Through their involvement with the Foodbank, they have seen firsthand how food insecurity touches families, seniors, and individuals across Arkansas.

Joe has served on the Foodbank’s Board of Directors for more than a decade, including a term as Board President, helping guide the organization through periods of growth and heightened need. Mary Lynn has volunteered for more than 25 years, contributing over 1,220 hours in service and becoming one of the Foodbank’s longest-serving volunteers. Together, they are also known for their quiet generosity, including hosting Foodbank staff in their home each Christmas.

High school sweethearts, Joe and Mary Lynn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2025. They have six children and twenty-two grandchildren, and enjoy spending time with family, traveling, reading, antiquing, gardening, and volunteering. Reflecting on their involvement, they share, “We are very grateful that our efforts, together with the wonderful staff and volunteers, are making a difference in the lives of our neighbors.”