The Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas will begin a hunger action campaign across its 10 counties on Monday in an effort to help provide food to residents in need.
September is hunger action month. Area Agency CEO and President Betty Bradshaw said Jefferson County has many people who do not have enough food. As part of the campaign, businesses are asking their employees to donate non-perishable foods.
People may bring food to the area agency office at 709 E. Eighth Ave., the home health office at 200 E. 11th Ave. Suite K and the senior center at 801 E. Eighth Ave. People are asked to donate non-perishables foods, canned foods, cereals and macaroni.
“The agency wanted to do something for people who needed food,” agency spokeswoman Carol Hayes said. “We have hungry people coming here looking for food and calling us looking for food. We brainstormed with area businesses in the 10 counties to partner together.”
This campaign is to meet existing needs of people, especially senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“It is a shame that we have so many hungry people in Pine Bluff,” Hayes said. “We have seen a cut back on our grants that support people. We have employees pooling money to buy food to donate to hungry people.”
Donated food will be stored in a locked room to be sure it reaches the right people. Toward this end, Hayes hopes that people with the ability to give will be generous.
“If we get so much food, we will give it to the food banks,” Hayes said. “Hopefully, we will get so much that we will not know what to do with it all.”
The Area Agency on Aging staff will visit the participating businesses on Monday, Sept. 29, and transfer the food to a secure location. Arkansas has the highest percentage of people going without food, she said.
“We have a Meals on Wheels program serving senior citizens every day in our 10 counties,” Hayes said. “Many senior citizens are shut-ins who cannot come.
“We have a freeze on the Meals on Wheels: we cannot serve any more people because of budgetary cuts,” Hayes said. “We do fundraisers two or three times a year to support Meals on Wheels.”
Michael Strachota Senior Center coordinator Jackie Brewer said that the senior center is funded from private donations and grants. More than 30 businesses will be participating, and the donated food will reach clients starting in October.
“We are not trying to be a food bank,” Brewer said. “But we are trying to bring the food to people who request it. We do provide meals in an emergency.”
Area Aging on Aging of Southeast Arkansas Home Care Service Director Sharon Dickerson said she is thankful to individuals and businesses who are participating in the campaign.
“We started the idea and asked businesses to partner with us,” Dickerson said. “Some companies are already collecting food. We deal with people who have great needs.”
This campaign is separate from Meals on Wheels. Recipients of the donated food will include single parents with children who are hungry. Each center will store the food in the county in which it is donated.
“When these needs arise, we bring food to people and people come to us,” Dickerson said. “We check on people to see if they have food.”