The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas is among six covering the state set to share a $500,000 gift from the Farm Bureau Insurance companies, according to an announcement Thursday.
The $500,000 gift will be distributed among the six food banks in Arkansas, based on the number of counties each serve. The Food Bank of North Central Arkansas serves nine counties.
The local food bank will receive $60,000 to assist in its efforts to meet increased need during the COVID-19 crisis and to continue serving individuals and families with their everyday crisis of hunger and poverty throughout the year.
Jeff Quick, Food Bank of North Central Arkansas CEO, says, “This generous gift will help thousands of individuals who face hunger and poverty each day and will increase our capacity to serve the newly unemployed and furloughed workers in the communities we serve. We are grateful for donors like Farm Bureau who support us in our work.”
Quick says the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas estimates a potential loss of $250,000 this spring, between March 16 and May 31, and anticipates distributing as much as 500,000 pounds of additional food during the same time period.
David Moore, senior vice president and general manager of Farm Bureau’s insurance companies in Arkansas, says, “Farm Bureau Insurance regularly responds to the needs of our customers when storm events occur, and we think it is appropriate that Farm Bureau help all Arkansas communities during these tough economic times.”
Moore says, “Farm Bureau has long been supporters of the important work of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, and we are appreciative of the amazing benefits the food banks in Arkansas provide to our citizens. Food Banks are playing an especially important role in feeding families during this unprecedented time and we are humbled and honored to provide this gift for your use.”
He says, “We offer our thanks and support to the farmers and ranchers of Arkansas who provide food and fiber for so many. Hopefully, the donation today can help get that food they produce to the homes and tables where it is needed.”
Rich Hillman, a rice farmer from Carlisle who serves as president of Arkansas Farm Bureau, says, “Farm Bureau’s founding mission is to feed and support the families that put food on our tables. Providing relief to our communities in a time of need is a core value of the Farm Bureau. Offering a helping hand to our friends at the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas and their partners who provide similar services throughout Arkansas is critical at this time.”
The donation is part of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance’s commitment of $2.3 million to food banks across its six-state footprint, including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.
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