Article at a Glance

How big is the need in Arkansas right now?

It’s significant. Right now, more than 592,000 people in Arkansas are facing hunger, including nearly 168,000 children. And for many families, the gap between what they have and what they need continues to grow.

What does that actually look like for families?

It often looks like so many hard choices. Skipping meals so kids can eat, or working long hours and still falling behind. It’s trying to balance providing, parenting, and simply getting through the day.

Is hunger connected to other challenges?

Very much so. Hunger is tied to things like unstable housing, job loss, or addiction. When one area becomes difficult, it can impact everything else.

What’s being done to meet these needs?

Through programs like after-school care, recovery support, and long-term family services, Every Arkansan is working to meet both immediate needs and the deeper challenges behind them.

Can support really make a difference?

It already is. For families like Shaneka’s (read more about her below!), support means meals, stability, and peace of mind. And with continued support, even more families can move from just getting by to moving forward.

For a lot of families across Arkansas, life looks normal on the surface. Kids get ready for school, and parents head to work. The day moves forward like any other.

But behind the scenes, things can feel so different.

For some, it’s the stress of stretching a paycheck just a little further. For others, it’s figuring out how to cover groceries, childcare, and bills all at once. And for many, it’s the weight of trying to hold everything together while feeling like they’re one step behind.

The truth is, need doesn’t always look obvious.

It’s found in everyday moments. In the families doing their best, working hard, and still facing challenges that feel tough to overcome on their own.

The numbers help us understand how widespread this really is. But more importantly, they point to something deeper: real people, families, and opportunities to step in and make a difference.

What the Numbers Show

When you take a step back and look at the numbers, it becomes clear how many families across Arkansas are working through these challenges every day.

Right now, almost 600,000 people in our state are facing hunger, including nearly 168,000 children. That means in communities all around us, families are working hard and still struggling to consistently put food on the table.

And it doesn’t stop there.

The people facing hunger in Arkansas are estimated to need over $361 million more each year just to meet basic food needs. Then on top of that, more than 466,000 people are living below the poverty line, including 1 in 5 children.

These numbers are big, but they’re not just statistics.

They represent parents doing everything they can to provide. They’re kids trying to focus in school while dealing with uncertainty at home, and families making hard decisions every single day.

And because the need is significant, it shows us something important: there is a massive opportunity to become a beacon of hope in our state.

What Hunger and Poverty Look Like

Sometimes, hunger and poverty don’t look how we’d expect.

It might look like a parent skipping meals so their kids can eat. Or working long, irregular hours and still being behind on bills. It might look like kids coming home to an empty house, trying to manage homework and dinner on their own.

Sometimes it’s not about a lack of effort. Instead, it’s the weight of everything happening at once.

When food, housing, work, and family responsibilities all overlap, it can be incredibly overwhelming. And without support, those challenges can build over time.

That’s the reality many families are pushing through in communities all across Arkansas.

Meet Shaneka

Shaneka is a mom of two from Little Rock, and in a lot of ways, her days start just like any other parent’s.

She gets her kids ready for school, makes sure they have what they need, and sends them out the door for the day. But unlike most parents, Shaneka doesn’t get to see her kids when they come home.

She works evenings.

By the time she gets off work, she’s tired and thinking about everything waiting for her. She needs to make sure her kids are fed, help with homework, and try to be present in the little time she has left. Some nights, she barely catches a glimpse of her oldest before bedtime, and her youngest is already asleep.

It’s a rhythm that’s hard to sustain, and one many single parents know all too well.

Feeling overwhelmed and needing support, Shaneka made the decision to enroll her kids in Every Arkansan’s free after-school program. It gave her children a safe place to go after school, where they could have dinner, get help with homework, and be surrounded by people who cared.

And for Shaneka, it changed everything.

This Place Is a Lifesaver for Our Family

“This place is a lifesaver for me as a mom. When I’m working in the afternoons or evenings, I don’t have to worry about my kids being home alone. They help with homework, provide counseling, and even make holidays special.”

— Shaneka

Not only did it bring peace of mind, but her kids love it too.

“My kids adore the Every Arkansan kids programs. They have great relationships with the staff, and the positive atmosphere puts my mind at ease when they’re not with me.”

For Shaneka, this was support when she needed it most. A steady presence for her kids, and a reminder that she didn’t have to carry everything on her own.

How Every Arkansan Is Responding

The needs across Arkansas are real, but so is the response.

Every Arkansan is here to meet people where they are, providing both immediate support and long-term solutions that help individuals and families move forward.

For kids and families, programs like our after-school and youth initiatives provide more than just a place to go. They offer nutritious meals, academic support, and a safe, encouraging environment (just like what made a difference for Shaneka’s kids).

For families in crisis, the 100 Families program walks alongside parents over time, helping them move from instability to a place of lasting resilience. It’s all about creating a path forward.

For those struggling with addiction, Every Arkansan Recovery offers a completely free, faith-based program where men and women can find healing, support, and a fresh start.

And through partnerships with local churches, resources are placed directly into the hands of pastors and leaders who know their communities best, expanding care across the Little Rock Metro and beyond.

Each of these programs plays a role in meeting real needs in real ways.

There’s More We Can Do Together

Even in the midst of challenges, we’re seeing meaningful change happening day in and day out.

We’re seeing it in families like Shaneka’s. When the right support shows up, kids are cared for, and parents find breathing room.

And there’s still so much more we can do, together.

Whether you give, volunteer, or partner with us, you’re helping create new opportunities for families to experience stability and a brighter future.

Because of you, these stories keep going.

We’d love for you to join us as we continue bringing hope to families across our communities!