ARKANSAS FOODBANK

OUR FOOD FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CONNECTING OUR PARTNER AGENCIES WITH LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL RESOURCES WITH FOOD AND FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR PROGRAMS, ULTIMATELY ENABLING THEM TO BETTER SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY. TO DO THIS, WE EMPLOY THE FOLLOWING TACTICS: WORK TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO FAMILIES; PARTNER WITH OVER 330 AGENCIES THAT INCLUDE COMMUNITY PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS AND SHELTERS ACROSS 33 COUNTIES; PROVIDE MINI-GRANTS TO BUILD AGENCY CAPACITY THAT CAN SERVE AS FOOD CREDITS AND/OR PURCHASE EQUIPMENT; CONDUCT FOODBANK UNIVERSITY TRAINING SESSIONS TO IMPROVE PANTRY SERVICES THROUGH AN ARRAY OF BEST PRACTICE TOPIES; AND DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAM INITIATIVES TO TACKLE BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY.

USDA COMMODITIES: LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE RESOURCES FOR CITIZENS. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT HELP FEED HUNGRY PEOPLE INCLUDE: SNAP, WIC, TEFAP AND CSFP COMMODITIES. LOCALLY, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SOUP KITCHENS AND PANTRIES AND PARTNER WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT HUNGRY PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES. COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING HUNGER. THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP) IS AN EFFECTIVE FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS SUPPLEMENT THE DIETS OF LOW INCOME AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EMERGENCY FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE VIA FOOD BANKS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO HELP REDUCE FEDERAL FOOD INVENTORIES AND STORAGE COSTS WHILE ASSISTING LOW INCOME PERSONS. TEFAP IS THE BACKBONE OF THE CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM.