On Oct. 31 Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that she will be distributing $500,000 to six food banks across the state, according to the press release that was posted on the Governors website.

“Governor Sanders secured emergency action from the Arkansas Legislative Council chairs to direct $500,000 in Restricted Reserve funds to food banks starting Monday, November 3rd,” the press release said. 

The six food banks to receive this funding are “Northwest Arkansas Food Bank at Springdale, Food Bank of North Central Arkansas at Norfork, Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas at Jonesboro, River Valley Regional Food Bank at Fort Smith, Arkansas Foodbank at Little Rock and Harvest Regional Food Bank at Texarkana.”

Sylvia Blain, CEO of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance said, “It [the funding] is a gift from the governor to help with the shortfall created by the SNAP program not being funded due to the government shutdown. What this funding will do is allow our food banks to purchase food to help with the increase in demand they are all seeing”

According to Arkansas Advocate, “The funds directed to Arkansas food bank networks won’t replace SNAP benefits. The federal government paid out more than $41 million in SNAP benefits to Arkansans in May alone, according to initial data from the USDA.”

Blain explained what the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance is, “The Alliance is a collaborative voice for the 6 Feeding America Food Banks in Arkansas and the nearly 600 member hunger relief agencies in the state.”

According to the press release, “Arkansas’ SNAP program serves nearly a quarter million beneficiaries at more than 2,700 retail locations.”

There are ways that citizens are able to help if they feel inclined to, “[People can] continue to volunteer and to donate to your local food pantry, food bank or to the Alliance,” Blain said.” We will continue to purchase food in order to meet the needs of our food insecure neighbors in the state.”

There were resources shared in the press release from the Governor for people to help.

“The HelpArkansas.com page on her website will direct Arkansans to food assistance resources throughout the state and will be updated as the government shutdown continues,” according to the press release, “Arkansans looking to volunteer or donate to help those in need can also find information on the site.”

The Governor is wanting these changes to go beyond the funding. 

“Governor Sanders has pursued other policies to combat food insecurity and improve nutrition in Arkansas, including making Arkansas the first state in the South to offer free school breakfast to every single public school student, signing Arkansas up for Summer EBT to offer students food during the summer months, and making school lunch free for students who previously received reduced-price meals,” according to the press release.” 

The Governor recently announced a new farm-to-school pilot program to help put fresh, local produce in Arkansas school.