Jonesboro, February 22, 2023 – The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas announced that a grant it received from the Arkansas Community Foundation, totaling $3,000, is being used to provide fresh produce to struggling families in Craighead County.
Since 2015, the Food Bank has operated the Fresh Produce Program to make sure fresh fruits and vegetables are available to food insecure populations. The Food Bank distributes produce through a network of partner agencies as well as through mobile pantries.
“We are grateful to the Craighead County Community Foundation for their support in helping us provide nutritious food to families in Craighead County,” said Christie Jordan, CEO of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. “As food costs continue to rise, many people are making hard decisions – food or rent? Food or gas? Food or medicine? These are decisions no one should have to make. That’s why getting fresh produce in the hands of our neighbors facing food insecurity is so important.”
Arkansas continually has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation. According to the most recent Map the Meal Gap report, issued by Feeding America, the Food Insecurity rate in Arkansas is 14.7%. In comparison, the Food Insecurity rate in Craighead County is 16% with 17,140 food insecure individuals.
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas provides hunger relief to people in need by raising awareness, securing resources, and distributing food through a network of non-profit agencies and programs. The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas provides the equivalent of 120,000 meals each week to people facing hunger. The Food Bank works in partnership with 140 non-profit partner agencies and programs in 12 counties in Northeast Arkansas. These counties include: Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph, St. Francis, and Woodruff. Additionally, the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is a member of Feeding America, a national network of food banks. Through our many partnerships, every $1 donated can help provide 4 meals. For additional information, please visit our website www.foodbankofnea.org. You can also find the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas on Facebook @FoodBankofNEA, Twitter @foodbankofnea, and Instagram @foodbankofnea.