Last year, we stated that 13.1 percent of households in Northwest Arkansas face food insecurity.

This year, the statewide increase in the state of Arkansas rose to 18.9%

The need to address food insecurity, particularly child hunger in Arkansas is painfully well documented, where nearly 1 in 5 people struggle with hunger.

Arkansas has the highest level of food insecurity in the country, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

In fact, Arkansas has some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation. Significantly higher than the rest of the nation.

In 2018, a Feeding America study found that 163,800 children in Arkansas -- or about 23.2 percent of the state’s children -- were food insecure.

Feeding America’s 2024 Map the Meal Gap report (based on 2022 data) indicates 18.6% of Arkansas (567,000 people) faced food insecurity...

...With 25.6% of children (1 in 4) lacking access to healthy food.

The USDA’s 2023 report shows that 16.6% of Arkansas households were food insecure between 2020 and 2023.

The USDA’s 2024 report shows an increase to 18.9% households.

Benton County Food Insecurity rate in 2020 was 14%.

That rate has now been documented as a decrease to 11%.

The war goes on.

We invite you to volunteer, donate, but most of all...

Pray.

Pray for us.

Pray for those whom we serve.

“He said to his disciples,‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”

— Matthew 9:37-38 [NLT]

“These were his instructions to them: ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”

— Luke 10:2 [NLT]

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.’”

— Colossians 4:2 [NLT]

“Never stop praying.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:17 [NLT]