As the gardening season gets going here in Arkansas, it is a good time to think about those who do not have enough to eat on a regular basis. Did you know that almost 18 % of the people in Arkansas are food insecure? That is 505,000 people - half a million of your fellow Arkansans. What is food insecurity? According to the national charity Feeding America, food insecurity is the USDA's measure of the "lack of access, at times, to enough food for a healthy life for all family members [and] limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods." Check out all the facts about hunger in Arkansas and the United States at Feeding America.
If you want to help, Feeding America is a great place to start. From their mission statement: "Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger." Their website has information about finding a food bank in your area, volunteering, and donating money.
Want to find something more local? Arkansas Rice Depot is Arkansas's largest food bank. They also have a list of ways to help in the community. Arkansas Food Bank is another Little Rock-based food distributor that you could help by volunteering or donating time and money.
Many churches and civic organizations also support local food pantries. Some food pantries may accept home-grown produce; if your zucchini produces more than you could ever eat, why not give some of it to a food pantry?
