Food Security Grants

In 2018, 17% of Arkansans experienced food insecurity and Arkansas continues to rank second among all U.S. states with the highest projected food insecurity rates. Being “food insecure” means that a household sometimes doesn’t know where their next meal will come from. That may mean reducing the size of meals, skipping meals or making tough decisions about whether to pay for food or other important expenses like rent, utilities or medication. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have only increased the number of families in need, with 22.5% of households in Arkansas now estimated to be food insecure. That equates to 1 in 3 Arkansas children facing food insecurity. *

*Estimated by Feeding America in The Impact of Coronavirus on Food Insecurity (https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/coronavirus-hunger-research

Arkansas Community Foundation’s Food Security focus area is aimed at reducing food insecurity and increasing the number of Arkansans who have consistent, secure access to healthy food.

To understand how numerous factors influence access to healthy food, we connect with partners such as the Access to Healthy Foods Research Group in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and UAMS, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, Healthy Active Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Education program.

These partners across Arkansas agree that food security is dependent on a strong resilient food system that goes beyond simply getting food to people. With that in mind, the Community Foundation has provided statewide Access to Local Foods Grants, to assist organizations in their efforts to make fresh foods more accessible.

Grants to programs such as the Bentonville Islamic Center’s Drive-Through Pantry, the Conway Ministry Center, Cobblestone Farms, Hatchlings Chicken Ranch and the St. Francis County Food Pantry help provide Arkansas families with fresh foods and other necessities, as well as SNAP enrollment, health screenings and cooking demonstrations.

Is your organization looking for funding opportunities to combat food insecurity in Arkansas? Starting in 2022, our 29 Affiliate offices will have the opportunity to offer targeted grants with a Food Security focus. Learn more about grant requirements and how to apply here.

Access to Local Foods Grants

Arkansas Community Foundation provided grants in 2021 to Arkansas-based organizations for projects that increased Arkansans’ access to locally grown and produced foods or helped strengthen the local food ecosystem.

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