The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas has received a 34-thousand dollar grant from the Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas. Development Director of the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas Vicki Pillow says the funds will be used in the Backpack Program.
“Feeding America has added a “Foods to Encourage” emphasis, which includes whole grain and dairy. We will be able to add whole grain cereal packs and milk with each backpack at the end of the week.”
She tells why this is important.
“It allows us to make the food more nutritious for the kids. Unfortunately, children as young as five years old has to fix these meals, so these meals are nutritious and child-friendly.”
The Backpack Program is in 12 school district and serves over 700 students. She says that many students are served because of a partnership between the food bank and the community.
“There is a new model where the Food Bank is working with civic organizations, churches, and businesses are stepping forward and sponsoring specific schools to increase the number of children that can be helped.”
She tells about the food that is put in to the backpacks every week:
“Because some of these children that are being served are so young, it is important to make sure that these kids can have plenty of good foods that are easy to prepare so all they have to do is just easily make it. There are no foods that require complex preparation instructions. Some are just as simple as popping off the top, adding water, and putting it in the microwave.”
She says this is needed in Arkansas because of the state’s high food insecurity rate.
“Arkansas has the highest rate of overall hunger in the nation. We are tied with Mississippi and we are third in the nation for childhood hunger. We have such a high rate of food insecurity in the state right now, which makes programs like these needed.”
Vicki Pillow. Pillow says 27-percent of the people served by the Food Bank and partner agencies are under the age of 18. The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas is a member of Feeding America and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
