Heart of Arkansas United Way supports health and human services organizations in Central Arkansas, and partners with local agencies on special projects and programs that benefit our community.

United Way is uniquely situated to address our community's the most pressing and wide-ranging needs. The time-tested approach of a single fundraising campaign brings together volunteers, citizens, organized labor, local businesses, and service providers to improve our community's quality of life and efficiently serve those in need.

Arkansas’ own faith-based response to hunger in our state.  Started in 1982, Arkansas Rice Depot is a unique food bank.  We serve all 75 counties in the state, we do not charge fees for our food,  and we depend on the generosity of Arkansans to fund our hunger relief efforts.

We Empower:  We believe the key to ending hunger in Arkansas is found in the Arkansas tradition of neighbors helping their needy neighbors, so we provide almost 7 million pounds of food each year to over 300 church and community hunger agencies through our Food For Families program.

We Serve:  No senior should receive a life sentence of hunger.  Through our Food For Seniors program, volunteers deliver 50 pounds of food and household items each month to seniors in Pulaski, Saline, and Faulkner County who can’t get to food pantries and would otherwise face hunger. 

We Innovate:  Because it’s hard to be hungry for knowledge when you’re just plain hungry, Arkansas Rice Depot started Food For Kids, which has now been replicated by 118 food banks across the nation. In Arkansas, we serve over 25,000 children by providing backpacks filled with food, personal care items and much more that is sent home with students in need.  We currently serve almost 600 schools in the state.

We Respond:  From a house fire that affects one family to a tornado that affects hundreds, to an ice storm that affects thousands; Arkansas Rice Depot’s Disaster Relief program immediately activates, providing immediate emergency relief through  our food pantry partners, public schools, disaster service events, and even door to door if necessary.  We continue to respond as long as needed.

We Depend on You:  Even one person can make a difference; just think what you, your church, your business or group could do.  YOU can help another Arkansan “hunger no more”.

501-565-8855

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• Teaching scrapbooking and craft classes
• Driving seniors to medical appointments and social outings
• Calling Bingo
• Playing table games, dominoes, and Wii games
• Teaching seniors to use computers
• Assisting with food distributions
• Wrapping gifts(in December) at fund-raising gift-wrap booth
• Selling donated items on e-bay