Advocacy

Arkansas Foodbank can’t fight hunger alone!

Only when charities, corporations, and the government work together can we end hunger. That’s why Arkansas Foodbank is building a community of advocates, policymakers, partners, and more to strengthen food assistance programs and invest in bold anti-hunger policies to help ensure no one in Arkansas goes hungry.

Everyone has something to bring to the table in the fight against hunger. What we do together today will influence who can get enough to eat tomorrow and for generations to come.

The Farm Bill

What is the Farm Bill?

Legislation approved around every five years that includes a range of programs related to food, nutrition, and agriculture
Initially passed as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal during the 1930s to address the Dust Bowl and Great Depression
The 2018 Farm Bill, officially entitled the Agriculture Improvement Act, expires in 2023

Recap of the 2018 Farm Bill

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the five-year spending at $428 billion
Three-fourths of spending in the 2018 Farm Bill is for nutrition assistance programs
The legislation approves hemp cultivation in the US with several limitations, including a maximum hemp THC level of 0.3%

Key Policy Areas Covered in the Farm Bill

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Now is the time to show how TEFAP is integral to assuring the people in your community can feed their families.

What you can do to help:

Contact your legislator
Tell them your story and share our overview of the impact this legislation will have on communities throughout central and southern Arkansas.
Share with them how TEFAP food purchases help your community.
Provide some key statistics on the impact of TEFAP in Arkansas:
- More than 55% increase in food demand, with an anticipated 30-40% decrease in USDA supply
- 1 in 5 people struggle with hunger
- 1 in 4 children are food insecure
- TEFAP provides nearly 20% of the food distributed through Arkansas Foodbank and its partner agencies
- TEFAP offers more than 120 nutritious foods including fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, milk and cheese, and whole-grain and enriched grain products, including rice, cereal, and pasta.

Download our TEFAP Impact Overview Document

Find Your Representative