Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas rice farmers are helping put food on tables across the state with a large donation to food banks during Arkansas Rice Month and Hunger Action Month.
The donation was announced at the Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock, where organizers highlighted the contribution as an effort to help Arkansas families facing food insecurity. The rice will be distributed through food banks serving communities throughout the state.
According to organizers, more than 639,000 people in Arkansas face food insecurity. That includes one in four children, making access to reliable food an ongoing concern for many families.
The donated rice is expected to provide hundreds of thousands of meals. Officials say the contribution represents about 2 million servings of rice that can be made available to people who need assistance.
The donation comes during a difficult year for Arkansas farmers. Despite the challenges facing the state’s rice farming community, farmers chose to contribute part of their harvest to help families across Arkansas.
“Express gratitude to our farmers who’ve had a really rough year. And despite that, they’re making 2 million servings of rice possible for our neighbors in need,” said Brian Burton, CEO of Arkansas Foodbank.
Burton also pointed to the donation as an example of the way people and organizations across the state can come together to support their communities.
“So, what’s not to love about that? Doesn’t that remind us how compassionate our state truly is?”
The rice will now move through Arkansas food banks and eventually reach communities around the state. The distribution is expected to help food assistance organizations provide meals to individuals and families dealing with limited access to food.
Arkansas Rice Month and Hunger Action Month provide the backdrop for the donation, bringing attention to both the state’s important rice farming industry and the continuing need for food assistance.
Read also: Arkansas officials remind political campaigns that signs are not permitted on highway right of ways
Rice is a major agricultural product in Arkansas, and the donation connects the work of farmers directly with food assistance programs. Instead of simply being part of the state’s agricultural economy, the donated crop will also serve a practical purpose for families who need help putting meals on the table.
Food banks rely on donations from farmers, businesses, organizations and individuals to maintain supplies and respond to local needs. The rice contribution gives those organizations another important food source to distribute as they assist communities across Arkansas.
As the donated rice makes its way through the state’s food bank network, organizers say it will provide a significant number of meals for Arkansas residents. The effort also highlights how agricultural producers can play a direct role in addressing hunger, even during a challenging farming year.
