Arkansas Rice Federation makes a donation to Arkansas Foodbank

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A donation from an Arkansas economic and agriculture cornerstone will be used to help fight hunger in the Natural State.

The Arkansas Rice Federation donated 284,000 pounds of rice to the Arkansas Foodbank on Wednesday. Officials said the donation was made to commemorate September as both National Rice Month and Hunger Action Month.

The donation will be distributed the Feeding America network foodbanks in Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Texarkana, Little Rock and Springdale. The donated rice will be used to stock weekend backpacks for children, food boxes for home-bound seniors and food pantries.

Arkansas Foodbank CEO Brian Burton said the donation will make a difference for food-insecure Arkansas families.

“One out of five folks worry about where their next meal is coming from,” Burton said. “With more donations like this, we can get off that most hungry list all together”

Officials said Arkansas ranks second in the nation for food insecurity.  Feeding America projects that 11% of Arkansans are experiencing hunger, totaling nearly 532,000 people, including one in five children who may not have enough to eat.

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