Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation at 18.6%.

That’s 567,000 people.

In Northwest Arkansas (Benton, Washington, Carroll & Madison counties), there are 89,000 people affected by food insecurity. That’s 15.4% of the population and well above the national average of 13.5%.

But what does “food insecurity” mean, exactly? Food insecurity is “when people do not have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”

Food insecurity can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Housing instability
• Lack of transportation
• Underemployment or unemployment
• Discrimination, stress and trauma
• Healthcare costs
• Lack of access to food resources

Do you know anyone experiencing any of these challenges? Maybe a co-worker, a single parent, a child in your kid’s class, an elderly person, someone who recently lost their job, a college student.

One of the many beautiful parts of the Northwest Arkansas community is that we know how to help one another in times of need, and we’ve all had times of need, yes? Can you think of a time when someone helped you?

You’re invited to help provide ONE MILLION MEALS for our neighbors in need in Northwest Arkansas who are affected by food insecurity.

The meals will be packed at Feed the Funnel parties by groups of people in NWA and distributed, free of charge, to organizations that provide food for our neighbors in need throughout Northwest Arkansas. We pack either a Modern Louisiana Style Red Beans & Rice meal or a Southwest Chile Black Beans & Rice meal. Both meals are plant based, clean label, allergen free, gluten free and dairy free. Each bag provides 6 meals after being cooked in water for just 20 minutes. Read more about the meals here.

There are three ways you can be be part of the One Million Meals for NWA initiative:

FUND MEALS

Each meal is $0.37 which covers the cost of: ingredients (rice, beans, dried bell peppers, and seasoning), packaging (bags, boxes), equipment (bins, cups, scoops, scales, sealers), supplies (hairnets, beard nets, gloves, sanitizing wipes, tape guns & tape, scissors), and staff (our team leads every group).

CLICK HERE TO FUND MEALS

PACK MEALS

Sign up your group to pack meals at a Feed the Funnel party! Ideally your group would fund the meals you pack; however, if your group doesn’t have funding, we’ll use donated funds (when available) toward the cost of the meals your group packs. Choose the appropriate option for your group.

CLICK HERE TO PACK & FUND MEALS

CLICK HERE IF YOUR GROUP WANTS TO PACK MEALS ONLY

RECEIVE MEALS

If your organization is based in NWA and provides food to neighbors in need and you would like to receive meals packed at Feed the Funnel parties, please send us an email with the name of your organization, your physical address (street address / city / state / zip), and your contact information (name / email / phone number). We’ll be in touch when meals are available!

CLICK HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE MEALS

Fund Meals

Buffington Homes
Sage Partners

Pack Meals

Buffington Homes
Sage Partners