Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Friday that she is directing $500,000 in state funds to six food-bank networks across Arkansas, stepping in as the federal government remains shut down and critical benefits to nearly a quarter-million Arkansans are denied.
In a statement, the governor said the federal nutrition program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will be frozen on Nov. 1 and leave many relying on it without support unless Congress acts. She blamed Senate Democrats for “playing political games” and pledged her administration would work with legislators, churches, and food banks to “help feed Arkansans” in the meantime.
The emergency funds will be distributed equally to six partner networks: Northwest Arkansas Food Bank in Springdale; Food Bank of North Central Arkansas in Norfork; Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro; River Valley Regional Food Bank in Fort Smith; Arkansas Foodbank (Little Rock with branches in Lexa and Warren); and Harvest Regional Food Bank in Texarkana. The governor said she will consider additional weekly allocations should the shutdown continue beyond next week.
She also pointed to the new website page, HelpArkansas.com, which will link to food-assistance resources, volunteer and donation opportunities and be updated as conditions evolve. Additionally, she encouraged the food-banks to purchase Arkansas-grown and manufactured goods.
Sanders noted that Arkansas had already taken other steps against food insecurity under her administration, including statewide free school breakfast for all public school students, summer EBT benefits and a farm-to-school produce pilot program. But she emphasized that those measures could not fully substitute for federal SNAP benefits.
With SNAP payments sourced from federal funding due to lapse, state officials say the nearly 250,000 beneficiaries in Arkansas who purchase at more than 2,700 retail locations across the state will face interruptions unless the federal government reopens.
In related news, the Arkansas Department of Human Services said on Friday that the agency will close county offices to public access and furlough over 1,500 employees if the shutdown lasts through early November. Click here to read more.
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