Securing Food

The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance works to increase the amount of food available to our members and their networks. The Alliance has provides over 2 million pounds of food annually to our food bank members that they utilize to supply local pantries and agencies. The Alliance operates Four major programs to accomplish this.

State Food Purchasing Program

State Food Purchasing Program was initiated in 2009 thanks state funds being appropriate in the 2009 legislative session. The Alliance worked with state policymakers to achieve the first ever state funding for food. In 2009 approximately $689,000 was used to purchase 835,663 pounds of food that was sent to local pantries and agencies across the state.

Gleaning

The Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (the Alliance) have partnered to form a gleaning network within the state of Arkansas. Gleaning is the Biblical practice of hand-gathering crops left after harvest. SoSA and Alliance volunteers glean fields and orchards donated by growers. The produce is then given to local pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that feed or distribute food to their neighbors in need. Since the summer of 2008 the gleaning effort in Arkansas has provide over 400,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to local pantries and agencies. The Alliance currently seeking volunteers for this project to enable us to expand the amount of food provided. Contact Michelle Shope at 501-399-9999 or mshope@arhungeralliance.org for more information.

Joint Purchasing Program

The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance operates a Joint Purchasing Program that allows our members food banks to pool their resources in order to save money and increase the amount of food purchased. In 2009 the joint purchasing program acquired over 600,000 pounds of food for the food banks saving them over $95,000.

Additionally, the Alliance helps coordinate transportation and sharing of food between the food banks in the state. This helps all of our state partners have better access to food and to use resources wisely.

Spirit of Giving Campaign

The Spirit of Giving Campaign is an annual statewide food drive that starts the first of December and runs till around December 18th. The food drive was initiated by Channel 7 and has grown consistently over the past 5 years. Last year over 59,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed to the regional food banks and local pantries in the state. Volunteering to help with the food drive is a great way to celebrate the Holiday season. Contact Michelle Shope at 501-399-9999 or mshope@arhungeralliance.org for more information.