Arkansas Foodbank served thousands of seniors in 2022 through direct service, partner agencies and community partnerships, but more progress is needed to reach the estimated 55,600 seniors facing food insecurity in Arkansas. To do this, we employ the following tactics:
- Provide community-level access to food through a network of over 300 partner agencies such as local food pantries, meal programs, and senior centers;
- Distribute senior-friendly food boxes to homebound seniors through Foodbank volunteers and joint efforts through CareLink;
- Offer senior-specific grant opportunities to provide agencies with additional resources to implement or improve services currently being offered;
- Conduct workshops on implementing senior programming and utilizing our “Guide to Serving Seniors;
- Assist seniors with SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) application and approval process through partner agencies, community events and joint efforts with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance;
- Seek agencies and community partners to serve seniors in targeted communities; and
- Host community-based workshops to address root causes of senior hunger and identify community resources and partnerships that promote food security.
The Foodbank seeks to expand its services through new partnerships, strengthen current programs and identify new opportunities to address root causes of hunger. Because many seniors in need often live on fixed-incomes, lack reliable transportation, or reside in difficult to access rural communities, we want to expand our community partnerships to places where seniors must already frequent like health clinics and community senior centers. This type of “single stop” partnership is a more efficient use of time and resources and will help to identify more underserved seniors. By combining your investment with our knowledge, skills and abilities, together we can ensure more nutritious food reaches those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans.
