One Pine Bluff, Arkansas farmer knows that her $2,500 donation through Grow Communities isn’t a one-time thing. It’s the catalyst to feeding more people in her community for years to come.
Feeding the Hungry Year-Round
In 2016, 36 percent of Pine Bluff residents fell below the poverty line. When Evelyn Bryant heard of America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, she knew exactly where she wanted to direct the award. Share-A-Prayer food pantry serves hundreds of hungry families in her Arkansas community with weekly food boxes.
There is a common misconception about seasonal hunger. Many assume that because summer months are warmer, people can more easily move around and find more to eat. However, this is not often the case. Children who may rely on free or reduced-price meals at school may find themselves without access to good food outside of the school year. Impoverished senior citizens who are the primary caretakers of these children may struggle to feed themselves and the children in the summer. Due to the warm weather, seniors may be spending more money on cooling their home.
Because of this misconception, food pantries and shelters are given more donations around the winter months, which means people in need are left hungry when we least expect it.
Share-A-Prayer pays special attention to feeding the youth and the elderly, especially in the summer. With the Grow Communities donation, the Share-A-Prayer food pantry was able to increase the number of food boxes from 40 to 70. Also, they now give out the boxes twice per month instead of just once.
Making a Lasting Impact
In the U.S., more than 41 million individuals are considered food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to quality, affordable and nutritious food. America’s Farmers is hoping to change that. Thanks to the watchful eye and kind hearts of American farmers, like Evelyn, we can feed more mouths when it’s needed the most.
If you have a nonprofit organization in mind that focuses on growing communities, you could help them do even more good work. Whether the group is a food pantry like Share-A-Prayer and helps feed the hungry, is a fire department that conquers life-threatening fires, or anything in between — your nomination could mean the world to your community. Nominate a nonprofit today for a $2,500 Growing Communities grant.
Everlyn Bryant directed her Grow Communities donation to feed hundreds of folks with food boxes from Share a Prayer.
