Lance Whitney, Director of Advocacy for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, said the presentation was part of the organization’s Serving Up Solutions program.
“I’m here today with Hope in Action and Representative Henley,” Whitney explained. “She did a fundraiser for us, waiting tables for about 450 people. That’s a lot of hard work, but it’s a lot of fun. Each participating legislator gets to choose someone in their district who fights food insecurity, and she chose Hope in Action as one of her nominees. We’re here to give a $500 mini grant to them so that as she’s reminded of what goes on in her district, she can take that experience and perspective back to the State Capitol as she works on policies to fight and, hopefully, end hunger in Arkansas.”
Representative Henley said taking part in the Serving Up Solutions event was a rewarding experience.
“This program from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance was just amazing,” Henley said. “My colleagues were very encouraging, wanting me to be a part of it. They ask all the legislators to serve at that big event. It serves about 400 people and they kept saying, ‘You’ve got to do this. You’ll be so rewarded.’ And, oh my goodness, to be able to serve food as a fundraiser for food insecurity, there was really nothing like it.
"We were given $1,000 for my participation, and I divided that between Howard County and Hempstead County. We’re so fortunate to have these organizations providing food to our communities right now for those in need.
"Food insecurity is real in Hempstead County, in Southwest Arkansas, and across our entire state. If you can, please consider donating canned goods, funds, or even your time to one of our local food pantries, it truly makes a difference.”
The funds from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance will help Hope in Action continue stocking its shelves and providing meals for local families and individuals facing tough times. Hope in Action operates as a local food pantry where anyone in need can stop by and receive a quick meal or essential groceries.