The Grater Good: Kevin Shalin’s Appetite for Giving Back

Kevin Shalin, the food blogger behind The Mighty Rib, has developed one of his most rewarding recipes yet: how to channel your personal interests into giving back to the community. The steps are refreshingly intuitive (start where your interests and talents align), the ingredients readily available (just willingness and a bit of spare time) and the results invaluable — the chance to make an impact on your friends and neighbors through advocacy for kids and families, hunger relief, support for the arts and more.

Following his own advice, Shalin is enjoying his third year on the planning committee for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families’ (AACF) Soup Sunday, this time as co-chair. His connection with AACF and its iconic event was a natural fit.

“It has to be the oldest, longest-running food event in the city or in this area. So I was really interested in getting involved somehow,” Shalin says.

He’s quick to share that Soup Sunday, set for March 2, is more than a chance to try soups from around the community. The family-favorite event supports AACF’s mission, which according to the nonprofit’s development director Fran Carter, is “to ensure that all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy, productive lives and realize their full potential.”

Since 1977, AACF has worked toward that goal through advocacy for legislation that directly impacts the youngest Arkansans and their families.

Credit: Jason Masters

“We led the charge to create the health insurance program that serves more than half the state’s children and successfully advocated to establish a statewide, low-income preschool program,” Carter says.

This year will be no different with a multifaceted approach that will support Arkansan families’ unique needs. Carter outlined AACF’s major focuses for 2025 ranging from improving maternal health to watching changes in Medicaid to ensure that cost-saving measures don’t restrict eligibility or health care access.

“It’s very rewarding work because it’s for such a good cause,” Shalin says.

His shift from blogging to using his voice and time to help others has been a slow boil. Launched in his hometown more than a decade ago, The Mighty Rib moved with Shalin from Houston to Boston and finally landed — and grew a ravenous following — in Little Rock. Primarily based on Facebook, The Mighty Rib is a community itself. Shalin shares mouth-watering food adventures, and his readers comment and share their own.

By design, his blog has never generated an income directly, but Shalin often scores freelance work from his writing. Yet during the pandemic, he felt pulled to make a change.

“I wanted to start using my platform to not only highlight businesses, but also to help nonprofits,” he says.

This drive led Shalin to Soup Sunday, as well as the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, a nonprofit that works to improve charitable food distribution across the state. To support its mission, Shalin has helped with the Arkansas Cornbread Festival in SoMa, as well as running his own fundraisers through The Mighty Rib. In late 2024, with the support of local restaurants, he raised $23,000 in two days for the organization.

Shalin has an appetite to help others find their fit in the Little Rock nonprofit world, too. The first step is making volunteerism a priority.

“Start by asking, ‘What’s an area that I think I’d be interested in?’ and then go from there,” he says.

If you get stuck, Shalin suggests checking in with your personal circles like church or friend groups.

“Just be open and seek it out. I bet you’ll be surprised where you end up landing,” says Shalin, who also warns from experience against spreading yourself too thin. “I kind of overextended myself the first couple years.”

Once you find somewhere to land, it’s time to dig in. Don’t be afraid to ask how you can help or volunteer for tasks that align with your abilities or local connections.

Credit: Jason Masters

“I think it’s always important for the volunteer to be really proactive,” Shalin says, adding that it’s key to then set a realistic schedule. “It’s not 10 hours a week, it’s one. I think people will find they can accomplish a lot in one hour to really help with an event or organization.”

Another crucial piece is connecting with the nonprofit team.

“You’ve got to feel like your time is being valued, and you’ve got to feel like who you’re working with is organized and prepared for meetings,” Shalin says. And from his experience, AACF fits the bill. “I wanted to raise more money every year because I believe in the people behind it, not just the cause.”

And how will you know you’ve found your volunteer home? For Shalin, it’s a simple metric.

“I want to support the team just as much as I want to support what they’re fighting for.”

Can’t wait for Soup Sunday? Try this recipe from BCW.

Soup Sunday
Benefiting Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families
March 2, 4 p.m. | The Venue at Westwind
Info: aradvocates.org/events


PHOTOGRAPHY
JASON MASTERS
SHOT ON LOCATION AT
BCW


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