As chairs of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s 2021 Hunger Action Breakfast Virtual Awards Ceremony, Renee and John Bethel have had their hands full preparing for the event. The Hunger Action Breakfast is the alliance’s cornerstone event as part of September’s Hunger Action Month, and the alliance has opted for a virtual program this year to keep guests, staff and awardees safe. There’s a silver lining to this switch — the alliance staff and six Feeding America food bank partners have been hard at work on a dynamic virtual awards ceremony, where you’ll hear from each of the awardees and learn all about the incredible work they’re doing to alleviate hunger in Arkansas and provide critical resources to their communities.
Renee and John, both native Arkansans and longtime supporters of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, have a passion for food and the way it brings people together. “We both grew up in families who loved to cook and loved to enjoy spending time with family and friends gathered around the table,” Renee and John explain. “We both learned at an early age the importance of welcoming others and helping to feed others. Throughout our adult lives, we have taken the opportunity to help combat hunger by sharing food with others through our church, contributing financially and through food donations to food banks and other organizations that fight hunger, providing food directly to individuals we encounter and volunteering with organizations that provide food and combat hunger and food insecurity.”
Hunger has been on the rise in Arkansas over the last year. According to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the state’s six Feeding America food banks distributed over 95 million pounds of food through the charitable food network in 2020 — an increase of 30 million pounds over the previous year. To meet this increased need, the alliance and the food banks, along with local hunger relief organizations across the state, have worked tirelessly to help Arkansans facing food insecurity get nutritious meals on their tables and access crucial resources. Renee and John encourage all Arkansans to take part in Hunger Action Month by standing against hunger in their communities — through volunteering, spreading the word about issues of hunger, and contributing financially to help those in need.
Visit https://one.bidpal.net/hab2021/welcome to learn more about the Alliance’s virtual Hunger Action Breakfast Awards Ceremony and how you can participate in Hunger Action Month.
1400 W Markham St # 304, Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 399-9999 | arhungeralliance.org
