What: National Rice Day Donation
When: Thursday, September 29th, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Arkansas Foodbank, 4301 W. 65th Street in Little Rock
Who: Dow Brantley, Arkansas Rice Council President
Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas Foodbank CEO
Why: September is National Rice Month and Hunger Action Month. Not only do we recognize the amazing work the rice industry does for our state’s economy, but also the pivotal role Arkansas rice farmers play in the fight against hunger.
Join us in celebration of National Rice Month on September 29th as the Arkansas rice industry makes a large donation to help feed families, children, and seniors across the state.
September is also Hunger Action Month. Arkansas ranks second in the nation for food-insecurity, and Feeding America projects that 11% more Arkansans are experiencing hunger since the start of the pandemic – totaling nearly 532,000 people today. That number includes one in four children who may not have enough to eat. This rice donation will go to weekend backpacks for children, food boxes for home-bound seniors, and will fill shelves at food pantries for families in need.
Participating rice mills are Producers Rice Mill of Stuttgart, Ralston Family Farms of Atkins, Riceland Foods, Inc. of Stuttgart, Riviana Foods of Carlisle, Specialty Rice, Inc. of Brinkley, and Windmill Rice Company of Jonesboro.
The rice will be distributed to the five Feeding America network food banks: River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith; Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro; Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana; Arkansas Foodbank in Little Rock; and Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Springdale.
The donation will take place at Arkansas Foodbank prior to Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Rice Month proclamation presentation to be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Governor’s Conference Room at the State Capitol.
