Thanksgiving is a distinctly American tradition. We all know the history of our Native American brothers and sisters who shared their bounty with the hungry Pilgrims. Giving thanks for all that we have and for all the people we love is at the heart of this very special holiday. Another aspect of this distinctly American tradition is the giving of our bounty.
In Arkansas, more than 500,000 people face food insecurity sometime during the year. That means they don’t know where their next meal will come from or when it may come. With the recent cuts to SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and even deeper cuts on the horizon, the prospect of having enough food to feed the hungry is in serious jeopardy. Our emergency food supply network comprised of food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters is already straining under the pressure as more and more families look for ways to make ends meet when their monthly SNAP benefits are exhausted. Many of our member agencies report having to shut their doors early because they don’t have enough food on the shelves to meet the demand.
So as you give thanks, we hope you will also give of your bounty by making a contribution to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. Through the donations of generous Arkansans, the Alliance is able to purchase food for our six Feeding America food banks that finds its way to dinner tables across the state. Through your generous donations, we are able to teach low-income adults and families how to make the most of their meager food dollars through our Cooking Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store nutrition education programs. We are able to help churches, civic and charitable organizations feed children after school and in the summer because of the contributions we get from individuals and companies who share our mission. If you believe that no Arkansan should ever go hungry, please make a tax-deductible contribution today by going to http://tinyurl.com/llfd6tr.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from all the people of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.