Arvest Bank kicks off annual fighting hunger campaign in Fort Smith area, Northwest Arkansas

Arvest Bank’s 1 million meals campaign to fight hunger across the regions it serves is now underway. The bank is recruiting the help of its employees and community members to join in this effort which included fundraising and nonperishable food drives across the 120 communities the bank conducts business.

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) reports 17% of American households surveyed in 2014 reported food hardship, or not having adequate funds to provide enough food for their family. Arvest said this year its conducting the annual initiative in the spring rather than the traditional fall timeframe of the past five years. The reason for the time adjustment relates to food bank demand rising during the summer months as many children do not have the benefit of eating meals at school.

Arvest Bank kicked off the two-month, bank-wide effort on Monday (April 4)  and it will continue through May 28. The initiative will conclude during the first two full weeks of June, when donations are presented to 69 local organizations who feed the hungry in their communities. Each of Arvest Bank’s 69 recipient organizations was selected on a local basis.

Arvest Bank in Northwest Arkansas has partnered with 19 local organizations for the duration of the initiative. All donations received will go to these organizations to provide meals to local, hungry families. Consumers can participate in 1 million meals by dropping off nonperishable food items or making monetary donations at any of the Arvest branches across the state and region.

There are 19 partnering organizations across Northwest Arkansas that will distribute the food that is collected with this campaign. Those partners include: Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, Salvation Army, several schools and churches in the region as well as non-profit organizations that focus on fighting hunger.

On Tuesday (April 5), Arvest Bank in Fort Smith, Smith Chevrolet, and Rheem are partnering with The Pack Shack to Feed the Funnel at the Smith Chevrolet showroom located at 6500 Autopark Drive in Fort Smith. Beginning at 2 p.m., Arvest Bank, Smith Chevrolet, and Rheem’s associates will work to pack 15,000 nutritious meals in one hour. These meals consist of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables, and 21 vitamins and minerals. The meals will be distributed directly from the Feed the Funnel party to Community Services Clearinghouse and River Valley Regional Food Bank, Arvest Bank’s local food partners for the 1 Million Meals initiative.

“Arvest is truly excited to be partnering with Smith Chevrolet  and our new community partner Rheem in the Feed the Funnel party this year to help us kick off our 1 Million Meals initiative,” said Beth Presley, marketing director of Arvest Bank Fort Smith and the River Valley Region. “The only way that we can tackle the problem of hunger is to get everyone in the community involved.”

Arvest Bank in the Fort Smith/River Valley Region has partnered with Community Services Clearinghouse, River Valley Regional Food Bank and River Valley Food 4 Kids in Russellville during the duration of the initiative. All donations received will go to these three organizations to provide meals to local, hungry families. Fort Smith and River Valley Region residents can participate in 1 Million Meals by dropping off nonperishable food items or making monetary donations at any of the Arvest branches in Fort Smith, Van Buren, Alma, Russellville, Clarksville, Paris, Mena, and Greenwood branches in Arkansas or at Sallisaw and Poteau Arvest branches in Oklahoma, or by calling (866) 952-9523. Every dollar raised through 1 Million Meals provides the equivalent of five meals for those in need.