On Thursday, October 24, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance hosted the 2024 Arkansas College Hunger Summit, gathering approximately 120 students from over 25 colleges and universities across the state. The event, held at the Centre at University Park, provided a full day of learning, discussions, and networking with a shared focus on sustainability. 
The Summit opened with a community-building breakfast sponsored by Swipe Out Hunger. Sylvia Blain, the Alliance’s CEO, welcomed attendees with a call to action on building sustainable hunger relief programs, setting the stage for an inspiring day. Keynote speaker Leilani Ocasio energized the room with her talk on how sustainable practices can be incorporated into campus hunger relief efforts. Ocasio shared impactful stories from her experience and provided practical advice for students looking to make a difference on their campuses. The morning continued with a panel discussion, Creating Sustainability: Campus Collaborations, featuring Wendy Holbrook from the UCA Bear Essentials Pantry and Cassie Jankowski Jones and Jeff Quick from the Northcentral Arkansas Food Bank. Panelists shared how collaboration between campus pantries and community partners is vital for maximizing impact. In the afternoon, the workshop Grant Writing 101 offered guidance on finding and applying for funding to support campus pantries. Led by Ocasio, this workshop provided essential tips for writing successful grants that meet the unique needs of college students. Additionally, Dr. Jennie Popp from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville led a session on How to Conduct a Campus Food Insecurity Survey, explaining how data can drive funding and create awareness about hunger on campus. Between sessions, students enjoyed short “brain breaks” led by Sarah Thomas, an engaging activity designed to keep the energy up and encourage interaction.
Supporting Campus Pantries with Grants
One of the highlights of the day was the awarding of $1,000 mini grants to 17 schools that demonstrated their commitment to combating food insecurity on campus. These grants will help fund campus food pantries and support sustainable hunger relief initiatives. Congratulations to the following schools on their well-deserved awards: Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas Tech, ASU Mountain Home, Lyon College, National Park College, Philander Smith, SAU Magnolia, Shorter College, South Arkansas College, U of A Fayetteville, UA Cossatot Ashdown, UA Cossatot DeQueen, UA Cossatot Nashville, UA Little Rock, UA Pulaski Tech, UAMS, and the University of Central Arkansas. Additionally, ASU Beebe and UACC Morrilton were each awarded a $500 wild card mini grant in recognition of their innovative approaches.
Thank You Sponsors
The Arkansas College Hunger Summit would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors. Special thanks go to our mini grant sponsor, the Arkansas Community Foundation/Garcia Family Fund, whose support directly empowers these campus pantries. We are also deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, Entergy, for their continued partnership and commitment to fighting food insecurity in Arkansas. Additional thanks to the Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Swipe Out Hunger, AgHeritage Farm Credit Services, and the City of Little Rock for supporting this impactful event.