Food Bank staff receives Acting Out Against Hunger Award and recognition from Gov. Hutchinson
Catherine Nolte
More than 60,000 people in western Arkansas wake up each day with one concern on their mind – where to find their next meal.
Whether because of job loss, sickness, disability or other crises, families and individuals find themselves facing food insecurity through no fault of their own. This is where the River Valley Regional Food Bank and its partner food pantries step in to fulfill their mission of fighting hunger and delivering hope.
In 2020, the River Valley Regional Food Bank distributed 22 million pounds of food, and they serve an average of 150,000 to 200,000 meals weekly to those in need.
To honor their dedication, Food Bank staff members received the Acting Out Against Hunger award Friday from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
Arkansas ranked fourth highest in the nation for child food insecurity in 2020, according to Feeding America. The organization also estimates that 42 million people may be food insecure across the United States, including 13 million children, due to COVID-19.
Every year, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance award "a volunteer, someone that's doing good out in the community, an agency or a donor," Tracy Engel, director of the River Valley Regional Food Bank, said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Hunger Action Breakfast and award ceremony were held virtually on Hunger Action Day Sept. 17, a day for advocating and fundraising for hunger-related causes.
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance recognized the River Valley Regional Food Bank, alongside the five other Feeding America food banks across the state.
"For all of the food banks and the Alliance to come together and award the staffs who work so … diligently through the pandemic … I thought it was a really great thing to show them how much we appreciate them," Engel said.
During the virtual ceremony, Kathy Webb, CEO of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, presented a video message from Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
"After more than a year of this global pandemic, more families and individuals than ever are struggling to put food on their tables," Hutchinson said. "To meet this increased need, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the state's six Feeding America food banks and an effective network of local hunger relief organizations have worked overtime to deliver nutritious meals and critical resources to those facing food insecurity."
The governor proclaimed September as Arkansas Hunger Action Month, encouraging Arkansans "to promote awareness about hunger and to united in the fight against hunger."
Catherine Nolte is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. She can be reached at cnolte@swtimes.com. Southwest Times Record and Report for America are working to place a new generation of journalists in community news organizations across the country. Will you support this effort today?