Fighting Hunger

Programs

Food For Families

Our Food For Families program ensures our over 300 partner agencies have food and funds to strengthen their local feeding programs. By supporting our local partners, we can increase access to healthy and nutritious foods for families in need across central and southern Arkansas.

Food For Kids

Our Food For Kids program provides food to children facing hunger through our network of school pantries, backpack programs and summer feeding initiatives. This approach allows us to make sure kids have the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive.

Food For Seniors

Food For Seniors works to improve access to food for older Arkansans through monthly food boxes, home deliveries, SNAP outreach and extra financial support to partner agencies. Our FFS program takes into account specific dietary restrictions or health considerations, transportation needs and physical limitations.

USDA within our programs

Just under a third of our pantries are USDA food and/or commodity sites. These Arkansas Foodbank partners offer TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) or CSFP (Commodity Supplemental Food Program).

In accordance with Federal Civil Rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Civil Rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior credible activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Arkansas Hunger Statistics

Hunger in Central and Southern Arkansas

1 in 6 Arkansans experiences food insecurity, which means they struggle to find sufficient access to nutritious food. 19% of Arkansas children are facing hunger, and in some rural areas, it’s even higher. Statistics like these are what rank Arkansas second in the nation for food insecurity.

Food insecurity describes a household’s inability to provide enough food for every person to live an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is one way we can measure and assess the risk of hunger.

Families facing hunger often have to make unthinkable choices – like buying food or paying the light bill, filling their pantry or filling their gas tanks. After the pandemic struck in 2020, these hard choices are a reality for many families who have never had to rely on a food bank or food pantry before.

In the 33-county region Arkansas Foodbank serves, Feeding America has projected that nearly 300,000 people will be considered food-insecure in 2021. We know it will take a while for these individuals to get back on their feet. Many families dealing with job loss or pay cuts may use money from their savings or retirement accounts to pay their bills – leaving them with an even less secure financial future.

You can help! Support Arkansas Foodbank with a gift today, and help us feed hungry families tomorrow. For every dollar you give, the Foodbank can provide enough food for five nutritious meals!

Donate