ARKANSAS FOODBANK
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Mission Statement
Our Mission The Arkansas Foodbank is the foundation in the fight against hunger. We find pathways to connect people, resources and food to reach those in need, providing dignity, hope and a brighter future for all Arkansans. Our Vision A stronger community where hunger needs are met with sufficient access to nutritious food.
About This Cause
Arkansas Foodbank was created on January 17, 1984 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to serve central and south Arkansas counties by providing an affordable and credible food source for local agencies serving hungry people in the state. 1 in 5 Arkansans are food-insecure, which means they struggle to find sufficient access to nutritious food. 25% of Arkansas children are facing hunger, and in some rural areas, it’s even higher. Statistics like these are what ranks 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. For more than 280,000 people in central and southern Arkansas, putting food on the table every day is a struggle. For many, they work several jobs and yet still can’t make ends meet. With inflation and the costs for housing and gas rising, those with limited incomes are hit the hardest. When met with choices to provide utilities for an apartment or eat, our neighbors and their children have to choose what to sacrifice. Hunger is a crisis that affects everyone, and it may not be easy to spot. More than 20% of our neighbors are food insecure and don’t know where their next meal may come from. They’re our friends. They live on our street. Many have jobs. Their children go to school with ours. They are people we see every day, and, too often, their struggle is hidden in plain sight. HOW WE HELP We provide food, resources, and data-driven solutions to neighbors who need it most. 1. Providing food to those who need it. Arkansas Foodbank puts food on tables. Through our network of community partners, we distribute more than 38.5 million pounds of food, or 32 million meals, across central and southern Arkansas each year. 2. Learning our community needs. Not every neighborhood has the same needs. We provide food to the very urban to incredibly rural corners of Arkansas, and each requires a unique plan to fight food insecurity and create a network of resources to build better lives for our neighbors. We are committed to learning each of our communities’ needs to meet them where they are. 3. Using data to drive hope. The face of hunger has changed dramatically within the past few years, and needs across central and southern Arkansas are no exception. We use Feeding America, state and local government, and agency partner data to identify underserved areas and efficiently allocate resources by community. FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY We combine community partnerships, capital investments, and direct services to feed Arkansans. Fulfilling our mission requires connecting people, resources, and food to reach those in need. To do that, we first engage established organizations to operate as distribution points for the 33 counties we serve. We then look for ways to enhance existing pantries and other agencies to meet growing community needs. Where there are gaps, Arkansas Foodbank provides direct services and programs for those still struggling to find food. Community Partnerships More than 90% of the millions of pounds of food we distribute annually is distributed through our 400 community partners. Our partners are food pantries, churches, schools, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other organizations that are dedicated to serve on the front lines of fighting hunger. Their existing relationships and operations are woven into the fabric of their communities and are integral to assuring we can feed hungry people. Capital Investments As our community partners’ needs change, we invest in them. We determine the communities that have gaps in services and food access, and then we put donations to work. From investing in refrigeration systems for perishable foods to increasing storage capacity at pantries, we create access to food and bring healthier options to people who might not be able to get nutritious foods otherwise. FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY Direct Services Not every community can fully serve the needs of its neighbors. We supplement our network of agencies with programs that target specific geographies and demographics with food security gaps. Mobile Distributions When our partners can’t support a distribution, it can have a devastating impact on a community. We identify areas with the most need and provide targeted mobile distributions to assure those communities and neighbors have ready access to nutritious food. Food for Kids 1 in 4 Arkansas children face food insecurity, and in some rural counties, the rate is even higher. We provide food to kids facing hunger through school pantries, backpack programs, and summer feeding initiatives. Food for Seniors We improve access to food for older Arkansans through monthly food boxes, ensuring our pantries are stocked with foods that meet seniors’ unique dietary needs, and extra financial support to partner agencies, such as mini grants, to help fund making pantries handicap accessible. Food for Families We connect our agencies with local, state, and national resources with food and funds to strengthen their programs, ultimately enabling them to better serve people facing hunger. Counties We Serve: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Garland, Grant, Hot Spring, Independence, Jefferson, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Montgomery, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Saline, Union, Van Buren, White MAKE AN IMPACT Partner with us to ensure no one in Arkansas goes hungry. To assure we can feed our neighbors, we need you. Donations are the best way for us to leverage our food sourcing relationships, lower the cost of acquiring food, and effectively distribute to communities in need. With capital to invest in our pantries and direct service programs, we can effectively create a network of resources to help Arkansans build better lives. $.94 of every $1 donated goes directly into our hunger relief programs. We can distribute 38 million pounds of food across central and southern Arkansas. Your donation will provide building blocks for life for children, seniors, and families. JOIN US IN THE FIGHT TO END HUNGER.