Hunger Action Month Breakfast – September 2008

It may have been a windy and wet day with the remnants of Gustav hanging around, but inside the Governor's Mansion there was fire, passion and commitment to help those in our state who are hungry. The Hunger Action Breakfast 2008 was a major success thanks to our hosts, the Governor and Mrs. Beebe, the 150 individuals who were able to brave the elements to attend and to the gracious donors who helped sponsor the event.

From the opening remarks and proclamation by Governor Beebe to the closing remarks by Rhonda Sanders, Executive Director of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, it was clear that Arkansas is pulling together to make a difference for families in need of food. "We at the Alliance are very grateful to the Governor for proclaiming September Hunger Action Month in Arkansas," said Rhonda Sanders, Executive Director of The Alliance. "We are hopeful that Governor Beebe's continued support of this issue will fuel discussion and actions to move from the position of the state with the third highest incidence of hunger in the nation to one where no one has to go hungry."

Comments by presenters during the morning stressed the importance of working together from every angle possible to cure hunger. A cross section of organizations and individuals were represented at the breakfast. Businesses, health care providers, legislators, advocates and hunger relief organizations all agreed that feeding the 400,000 plus individual Arkansans who are hungry must be a priority as we move forward with education and economic development strategies in our state.

The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance would like to thank the sponsors of the breakfast for making it possible. The Walton Family Foundation underwrote the event through a special grant. Additional sponsors included:

Affiliated Foods Southwest
Arkansas Children's Hospital
Arkansas Farm Bureau
Arkansas Foodbank Network
Arkansas Rice Depot
Arvest Bank
AT&T
Virginia & Dr. Ted Bailey Family Foundation
Richard E. Bell
Brent Stevenson Associates
Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods
Entergy Arkansas
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas
Dr. Mary Good
Performance Food Group
Representatives Kathy Webb and Bobby Pierce
Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor
Stallion Transportation Group
Windstream Corporation

The host committee out did themselves with planning and support for the breakfast. The committee included the following individuals:

Rose Adams
Jim Cargill
Larry Choate
Reverend Steve Copley
Linda Finley
Phyllis Haynes
Misty Krug-Pitchford
Cydney Pearce
Harriett Phillips
Jennali Shook
Representative Kathy Webb
Ron Witherspoon

The Alliance is growing and expanding as they seek to build a team that will work to reduce hunger by working together to provide hunger relief, education and advocacy. The Alliance honored two Arkansas farmers today for their efforts to help develop the Society of Saint Andrew's Arkansas Gleaning Project. Bob Fritchey of the Society of Saint Andrew accepted the award in the place of Randy Clanton and Abraham Carpenter who were unable to attend due to the flooding in their areas. This new project is one of the ways the Alliance is partnering with multiple organizations to leverage Arkansas resources for reducing hunger. The Alliance hopes to at least double the 200,000 + pounds of food gleaned in the state in 2008 by this time next year.

As the event closed and friends and supporters exited the doors a sense of humility settled on Alliance staff. So many people fought the wind and rain to attend an event and show support for ending hunger in Arkansas. So many more attempted to attend but met with flooding, power outages and traffic restrictions. This level of passion and commitment must be met with action and endurance. The Alliance will be facilitating legislative visits, writing and circulating editorials and attending events through out the state during the upcoming month. All of these activities will be focused on challenging Arkansans to work with us as we move forward with strategies to reduce the number of hungry right here at home.

If you would like information concerning The Alliance and its activities please feel free to call us at 501-399-9999 or to check the website at www.arhungeralliance.org.