Hunger
Starting to make a difference in the lives of hungry children is as easy as asking 1, 2, 3!
- Where do children live, learn, and play?
- Can we serve them where they are?
- What human, physical (kitchen, building, land, bus) and financial resources do we have?
Here are some documents to help you get started:
- Read the 200K Reasons Quick Guide to get an overview of the Hunger Initiative.
- Read the 200K Reasons Getting Started Guide and discern your next steps through scripture and prayer.
- Once you have identified your Action Area, go to its corresponding Toolkit below.
For some hunger-related activities, see 200K Reasons Activities. Referenced files for the activities are:
- 200K Reasons Cooking Matters Shower
- Arkansas UMC SNAP Challenge
- Food For Kids Wishlist – AR Foodbank
- Funnelology 101 – Pack Shack
For other activities, visit our partners, the Arkansas Foodbank and the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, and learn what they are doing to provide food for hungry families in Arkansas.
Learn about childhood hunger
To increase knowledge and awareness of the need for ministries centering around childhood hunger, start here with the 200K Reasons Learn Guide.
The following files are referred to in the Learn toolkit:
The following files are referred to in the Learn toolkit:
- 200K Reasons Recommended Reading List – detailed version
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites – detailed version
- Heifer Feeding 5000, Sunday School and VBS Curricula
- Heifer Project Fact Sheet
- The Future of Children – Princeton Brookings Research Report
- YSA No Kid Hungry Guide – Youth Service America (YSA)
- YSA No Kid Hungry Teachers Guide – Youth Service America (YSA)
Learn what the National Commission on Hunger recommended to Congress in their 2015 Final Report.
Read synopses of some of the books on the Recommended Reading Lists:
- Exodus from Hunger by David Beckmann
- Finding God in a Bag of Groceries by Laura Lapins Willis (a 2015 UMW Reading Program book)
Feed the hungry
The Gospels have many examples of Christ feeding his followers. Live out this example of love with the 200K Reasons Feed Guide. This toolkit gives ways to distribute ready-to-eat food including backpack programs, school meals, soup kitchens, and summer meals.
Files referenced in this toolkit include:
Files referenced in this toolkit include:
- 200K Reasons Arkansas Food Banks – see below for the list of Food Banks in the state
- 200K Reasons Arkansas Food Resource Directories – see below for the lists of food sources sorted by county within each ARUMC District
- 200K Reasons Funding Resources – see below to find out where to get money, grants, or material assistance
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites – (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Arkansas Report Card – University of Arkansas Office of Education Policy
- Breakfast After the Bell – No Kid Hungry/Share Our Strength
- Community Eligibility Provision – Food Research and Action Center
- FRAC Arkansas – Food Research and Action Center
Garden to provide fresh produce
If you are interested in a community garden or gleaning programs, the 200K Reasons Garden Guide includes how-tos and resource information.
Useful Gardening Resources are:
- 200K Reasons Monthly Garden Calendar – lists activities for each month of the year for a successful community garden
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites – (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Dig Eat and Be Healthy is a guide to growing food on public property
- DUG Best Practices – from the Denver Urban Garden (DUG) project
- Garden Compost Mulch – what’s the difference and how do you make or use it
- Garden Ground Rules, a legal toolkit for community gardens
- Garden Record Keeping, sample forms for community gardens
- Gardening Matters Start-up Basics – Gardening Matters
- Gardening Matters Start-up Guide – Gardening Matters
- Lets Move Garden Checklist – Let’s Move
- UAEX Planting Guide – University of Arkansas Extension Service (UAEX)
Provide food and resources to the hungry
He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” (Luke 3:11 CEB)One way to help those in need is to provide food and ways of getting food. To find out how to do this, use the 200K Reasons Provide Guide.
The Provide Toolkit uses the following additional resource files:
- 200K Reasons Arkansas Food Resource Directories – see below for the lists of food sources sorted by county within each ARUMC District
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites – (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Arkansas Map the Meal Gap – food insecurity in Arkansas by county 2013
- End Child Hunger Shopping List – ConAgra Foods
- Food For Kids Wishlist – AR Foodbank (formerly Rice Depot)
- Funnelology 101 – Pack Shack
- Organizing and Operating a Food Pantry – Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
- School Pantry Guide – Arkansas Foodbank
- Shopping Farmers Markets in Arkansas
- Starting a Food Pantry
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)
Teach vital skills to those who hunger
Education is one of the most effective methods of helping those who experience hunger. The 200K Reasons Teach Guide contains studies you can use to lift up and give hope to those who are experiencing hunger.
Resources used in this toolkit include:
- 200K Reasons Cooking Matters Shower
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites– (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Cooking Matters (CM) Resources
- EFNEP Overview – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Witness to the issue of hunger
In order to create long-term solutions to the issue of hunger, United Methodists of Arkansas must advocate for change. Use the 200K Reasons Witness Guide to get started.
Files used in coordination with the toolkit:
- 200K Reasons Arkansas Food Resource Directories – see below for the lists of food sources sorted by county within each ARUMC District
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites– (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Arkansas UMC SNAP Challenge
- Breakfast After the Bell – No Kid Hungry/Share Our Strength
- Ending Hunger In America 2014– Bread for the World Institute
- National School Lunch Program: Trends and Factors – Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
- School Breakfast Programs: Effective Policies for Increasing Participation – No Kid Hungry/Share Our Strength
- Witnesses to Hunger – Center for Hunger-Free Communities
Additional Resources
- Arkansas Food Banks and Resources – list of food banks and pantries across the state
- Arkansas USDA Farmers Markets – markets which accept SNAP and/or WIC
- 200K Reasons Recommended Reading List – (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- 200K Reasons Recommended Websites – (see the Learn Toolkit for a more detailed list)
- Gundersen Addressing US Food Insecurity – This report, written by a preeminent researcher on hunger, has vital information for anyone who wishes to address this issue.
- Underserved Counties by District – mapped by ARUMC Districts
Statistical Information
The following documents contain statistics and other information that will give a good “bird’s eye view” of hunger, some of which may prove useful when applying for grants.
Arkansas United Methodist Church Hunger Information
- ARUMC Hunger Survey Results 2015 – results of a 2014 survey sent to ARUMC churches
- Underserved Counties by District – mapped by ARUMC Districts
State of Arkansas Hunger Information
- Child Poverty in Northwest Arkansas – Ark. Advocates for Children & Families, Jan. 2015
- Childhood Hunger in Arkansas – statistics on hunger in our state
- Vote to End Hunger in Arkansas – Bread for the World
United States Hunger Information
- Food and Nutrition Assistance Expenditures 2014 – U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)
- Food Hardship Rate by State 2015 – Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
- National Commission on Hunger – 2015 Final Report to Congress