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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that her state agency-wide Holiday Food Drive collected the equivalent of 31,587 meals this year, all of which has been donated to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.
The drive brought in 37,908 pounds of food, a 76.5 percent increase over the 21,472 pounds collected last year.
“Arkansans are some of the most generous people you’ll find anywhere, and this year’s Holiday Food Drive collections show how willing they were to step up for their neighbors,” Sanders said. “Between gift-wrapping, cookie-baking, and busy holiday schedules, our state employees still took the time to give back and remember the true reason for the season.”
The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, which coordinates donations with its statewide network of food banks, will distribute the collections to communities across the state.
“This food drive is a powerful example of how collaboration can make a real difference for families facing hunger,” said Sylvia Blain, CEO of the alliance. “We are grateful to Governor Sanders and state employees for stepping up to support Arkansans in need.”
The Department of Corrections donated the most food by total weight, contributing 9,259 pounds. The Department of Inspector General recorded the highest per-capita contribution at 32.6 pounds per employee. The Department of Shared Administrative Services was named the Rising Star after increasing its total collection by more than 1,400 percent over last year.
