Food For Families
Your table may be overflowing with food. But many are hungry.
What does your family do when you run out of food at home? You probably make a trip to the grocery store. But many families in Arkansas have to wait. And wait.
So they go hungry.
Many people are facing short-term emergencies, such as devastating illness or the loss of a job. A helping hand is all they need to get out of a tight place. Others, especially the aged and those who are mentally or physically challenged, have long-term needs.
Fast Facts
- The only statewide food bank in the state
- Provides no-cost food to over 300 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters
- Supplied over 8 million pounds of food in 2009
- Serves over 349,000 Arkansans
- Arkansas' rate of food hardship is second-highest in the nation. Homes with children present have an even higher rate of food hardship.
The Food For Families program provides food to compassionate people in churches and community centers all over our state. They, in turn, share it with people in need.
Once a month, the Rice Depot refrigerated tractor trailer meets area hunger agencies to provide them with needed food items. Arkansas Rice Depot provides 11 regional drop sites to meet the needs of the entire state:
- Blytheville
- El Dorado
- Fordyce
- Fort Smith
- Hardy
- Harrison
- Jonesboro
- Magnolia
- McGehee
- Helena – West Helena
- Springdale
(Little Rock headquarters serves hunger programs in Central Arkansas)
"Our food pantry operation would serve far fewer families if it weren't for the outstanding resources of the Arkansas Rice Depot. The pantry items we receive monthly from the Depot are crucial to our ability to serve an average of more than 50 families per month."
"We serve one and usually more new families each month due, we believe, to the continuing downturn in the economy. We now serve several Spanish-speaking families, as well. From among all the families we serve, several have a large number of children. We also serve several elderly who, because of the ongoing struggle they have with living on meager incomes, view our pantry as a blessing from God."
Your tax-deductible donation provides so much to many who have so little:
- $5 provides 5 pounds of food for one hungry family
- $25 provides 5 hungry families with 20 pounds of food each
- $100 provides 20 pounds of food each for 20 hungry families
- $500 provides trucking costs to deliver one month’s food to 10 food pantries
To learn more about the Food For Families program or about setting up a food pantry in your area contact us at 501.565.8855 or at contactus@ricedepot.org
