As benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) halt, Little Rock city leaders are asking for community support.
SNAP Benefits will end Saturday for all Arkansans due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. On Friday, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. announced the city will relaunch an online portal for community donations called LRCares.
Scott says around 36,000 Little Rock Residents rely on SNAP benefits.
"It's also close to 4,000, little over 4,000, federal workers here in Little Rock. Being the state capital city, we have a lot of government entities, whether it be state, local or federal, that are housed right here in the state capital city. Those workers are impacted as well.”
Scott says, thanks to a partnership with Edwards Food Giant, the city will use incoming donations to purchase gift cards from the grocery chain at a discount. The city will then distribute the gift cards to staff with the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, who will ensure the cards are properly distributed to those who are in need food assistance.
Ward 3 City Director Kathy Webb explained.
"Nobody knows the food pantries and the charitable network in Little Rock better than the teams at the Arkansas Foodbank and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. Their SNAP teams work with individuals who access those food pantries, and that is why we will be able to use them as distribution points, because they know the people who are going without.”
Little Rock School District Superintendent Jermall Wright announced at Friday's press conference that all schools and early childhood education centers will serve as drop-off sites for donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries and hygiene products.
These will be used to stock school food pantries.
LRCares first began in the aftermath of the March 31, 2023 tornado that damaged large swaths of the city. The online portal can be found here; just select ‘community groceries’ as your donation type.
