Guest blog courtesy of the Arkansas Foodbank
Get ready for the 2nd annual Harvest Night, hosted by Arkansas Foodbank!
This evening will be an opportunity for our community, families + friends to see firsthand the amazing facility that sources food to over 450 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and children’s feeding programs in 33 counties in Central and Southern Arkansas.
Slated for September 16th, from 5-8 p.m., Harvest Night will take place at the Arkansas Foodbank Warehouse.
Guests can enjoy craft beer and wine + BBQ and catfish from Corky’s Ribs & BBQ, as well as live music and outdoor games for adults. Meanwhile, the kids can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, balloon animals and bounce houses. Tickets for adults are $40 (includes dinner + 2 drinks), and kids under 12 are free.
This year’s event chairs are Robert and Haley Klein. “Many of us, Robert and I included, take the ability to drive-thru a restaurant or fill up a grocery cart for granted. Cleaning out the pantry, being picky about what you eat, or throwing away food is a luxury that many of our neighbors do not have,” Haley says.
September is Hunger Action Month – Feeding America’s awareness campaign to bring together our national network of food banks to raise awareness and fight hunger. All month Arkansas Foodbank will highlight the hunger issues in our state and offer ways you can help make a difference in the lives of the hungry. Hunger exists in every community across Arkansas. 30 Ways in 30 Days is our interactive calendar of events, including activities that our community members can do or an event to attend to help bring awareness to hunger in our state. The funds raised for Harvest Night can provide food for 250,000 meals to be distributed to our neighbors in need.
Gretchen Wood, special events coordinator at the Foodbank, says, “Harvest Night is the marquee event for Hunger Action Month. It’s a great time of year to host a family-friendly event with cool fall weather, Razorback football, especially for a worthy cause! As we get closer to the holiday season, it’s important for us to remember that not everyone is fortunate to have a spot at the dinner table. With that in mind, attending Harvest Night is the perfect opportunity for a night of fun with your family and to help your neighbors in need.”
There are over half a million Arkansans who don’t always get enough to eat, which means they sometimes don’t have the fuel they need to tackle the day. So while it’s tough to do basic activities on empty, it’s easy to make a difference. Join us this September and unite with us to fight hunger. Visit arkansasfoodbank.org to learn more.
