Arvest is pleased to announce the bank’s 14th annual Million Meals campaign raised $170,856 to help provide the equivalent of 854,282 meals to benefit 34 food partners in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The total was announced Thursday at Arvest Ballpark during a special presentation before the Naturals baseball game.
Each year, the Million Meals campaign raises money to feed local communities across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri while also raising awareness about food insecurity. Every dollar raised through the campaign provides up to five meals for local, hungry families.
Monetary donations collected during the two-month-long campaign were given directly to food partners to help stock pantries during the busy summer months. Bank-wide, the campaign provided more than 2.6 million meals by donating $524,451 to 85 food partners.
“We are very proud to once again see our community come together to support our neighbors in need,” said Kent Williamson, president of Arvest Bank - Springdale Region. “Our fight against hunger isn’t just about filling empty stomachs but about nourishing communities and empowering individuals. We are very grateful to our customers, community members and associates for their continued support of such an important initiative.”
The Million Meals campaign takes place annually from April through May to help food partners meet the increased need during the summer months when many children don’t have the benefit of free meals at their schools. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Arkansas ranked 1st among the most food-insecure states in the nation based on average rates from 2020-2022.
Donations were collected at Arvest Bank branches, online, on the Arvest Go mobile app and by telephone. Since the hunger initiative began in 2011, the Million Meals campaign has provided more than 25 million meals and collected more than $4.6 million in donations. Last year, the campaign raised 2.29 million meals through monetary donations made directly to the bank’s local food partners.
For more information about Million Meals and local food partners, visit arvest.com/millionmeals.
About Arvest
With more than $26 billion in assets, Arvest Bank is a community-based financial institution serving more than 110 communities in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Established in 1961, Arvest Bank is committed to meeting the needs of its more than 830,000 retail and business customer households by continually investing in the digital tools and services customers expect. Its extensive network of more than 200 banking locations provides loans, deposits, treasury management, wealth management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing as a part of its growing list of digital services. Arvest is known for its commitment to the communities it serves and to attracting, hiring and retaining a diverse group of talented people. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. To learn more please visit www.arvest.com.
