With Rice Depot, United Methodists share Gods bounty
10-02-2009Laura Rhea
For the Arkansas United Methodist
In Arkansas, 500,000 individuals live in poverty and far too many face hunger. Thanks to a partnership between the United Methodist Churches in Arkansas and Arkansas Rice Depot, 374,000 of them have food on their tables, and the knowledge that someone cares.
Founded 27 years ago by the Arkansas Inter-Faith Hunger Task Force, Arkansas Rice Depot was built on a foundation of rice — appropriate when you consider that rice is the largest food crop in Arkansas.
Rice growers and the rice industry were the first food donors, and more than 300 of them have been faithful donors over the years.
In 2009, Arkansas Rice Depot will distribute more than 7 million pounds of all different kinds of food, and a wide assortment of personal care and household items, as well Ingathering kits and disaster supplies.
Arkansas Rice Depot distributed 4,785,716 pounds of food and supplies during the first eight months of 2009, an increase of 374,667 pounds — or nearly 8 percent over the same period last year.
Rice Depot distributes more than 15 tractor-trailer loads of food and supplies per month, or more than 28,000 pounds per day.
Arkansas Rice Depot is the only statewide foodbank in Arkansas, and provides food to more than 13 percent of the population of the state. It is a ministry dedicated to honoring Christ’s command to feed the hungry and care for the poor.
Arkansas Rice Depot’s mission is simple: “to find sensible solutions to hunger in Arkansas.” The programs of Arkansas Rice Depot reach out to individuals facing a food crisis in four distinct ways.
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We Empower: We believe the key to ending hunger in Arkansas is found in the Arkansas tradition of neighbors helping their needy neighbors. Through Food For Families we provide almost 7 million pounds of food each year to over 300 church and community hunger agencies.
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We Serve: No senior citizen should receive a life sentence of hunger. Our Food For Seniors program enables volunteers to deliver 50 pounds of food and household items monthly to homebound seniors.
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We Innovate: Because it’s hard to be hungry for knowledge when you’re just plain hungry, Arkansas Rice Depot started Food For Kids, a food pantry for students in public schools which has been replicated by 118 food banks across the nation. In Arkansas, Food For Kids serves more than 25,000 children in 600 schools by providing backpacks filled with food, and other items that is sent home with students facing hunger. A backpack filled with food is making a difference that will last a lifetime for these students.
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We Respond: From house fires and tornados to ice storms and even large factory closings, Arkansas Rice Depot’s disaster relief program provides emergency relief through our food pantry partners, public schools, direct disaster service events, and even door to door if necessary. Our emergency relief efforts continue in a community as long as needed.
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We Depend on You: United Methodist churches have been a key ministry partners with Arkansas Rice Depot for the past 27 years. Through financial support, donations of Ingathering kits, bulk items and food, performing volunteer service, operating food pantries and hosting Simple Pleasures Alternative Holiday Markets, United Methodist churches and individuals have made the work of Arkansas Rice Depot possible.
Without you, hundreds of thousands of Arkansans would face an empty plate. With God’s grace — and neighbors helping neighbors — those who hunger will hunger no more.
Laura Rhea is the president and chief executive officer of Arkansas Rice Depot. She can be reached at endhunger@ricedepot.org or (501) 565-8855.
The Arkansas Conference will celebrate the 32nd Ingathering from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Arkansas Rice Depot, 3801 W. 65th Street in Little Rock.
All churches are encouraged to participate in this annual effort to stop hunger and provide disaster relief.
The conference emphasizes “Bulk is Better”: receiving bulk items saves time and money when they reach Sager Brown, the United Methodist Committee on Relief depot in Baldwin, La.
The District offices will provide collection dates and times in your district.
Click here to download the 2009 Ingathering Remittance Form.
