Arvest raises $616,000 in ‘Million Meals’ campaign

Fayetteville-chartered Arvest Bank raised $616,100 and hit its goal of 3 million meals in the bank’s 15th annual Million Meals campaign. The money will benefit more than 80 food partners in the bank’s footprint in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

“With one dollar able to provide up to five meals for someone in need, the funds will help food partners distribute more than 3.08 million meals for hungry families and individuals,” Arvest noted in a press release.

For the campaign’s 15th year, the bank set a goal to increase donations by 15%, equating to more than 3 million meals. Last year, the campaign raised 2.6 million meals.

“We’re very proud of the success of this year’s Million Meals campaign,” said Mike Jacimore, president of Arvest Bank – Fort Smith region. “To hit our 3 million meals goal bankwide is a testament to the strength and compassion of the communities we serve. Through the generosity of our community members and associates, these funds will help our local organizations continue to combat hunger and provide essential support to our neighbors.”

New to the campaign this year, Arvest presented the Million Meals Hunger Hero Award to Fort Smith food partner Antioch for Youth & Family in honor of the nonprofit’s founder, Charolette Tidwell, who died in November 2024. The award recognizes “the crucial work that community food pantries and their volunteers undertake daily to provide resources to those in need,” the release shows. Antioch received an additional $1,000 donation from Arvest along with the award.

The Million Meals campaign runs from April to May each year and raises awareness and money to fight hunger in the bank’s four-state footprint. The campaign aimed initially to raise 1 million meals. Since 2011, the initiative has helped provide more than 28 million meals and raised more than $5.1 million in donations.

Arvest Bank has $27.13 billion in total assets as of March 31, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.