Arkansas Food & Resource Guide
- Ashley Clifton
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
Resources That Provide Immediate Food Today | Arkansas’ Regional Food Banks: These nonprofit hubs connect you with local pantries, mobile distributions, and emergency grocery boxes.
Arkansas Foodbank (Central & Southern AR) Address: 4301 W. 65th Street, Little Rock, AR 72209 Phone: 501-565-8121 Website: https://arkansasfoodbank.org Pantry/locator: https://arkansasfoodbank.org/food Text “findfood” to 844-381-3663 to get local pantry info via text.
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Address: 1604 Honeysuckle Street, Lowell, AR 72745 Phone: 479-872-8774 Website: https://www.nwafoodbank.org Food assistance - pantry map: https://www.nwafoodbank.org/find-food
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas Address: 3414 One Place, Jonesboro, AR 72404 Mailing: P.O. Box 2097, Jonesboro, AR 72402 Phone: 870-932-3663 Website: https://www.foodbankofnea.org
River Valley Regional Food Bank Address: 1617 South Zero Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901 Mailing: PO Box 180070, Fort Smith, AR 72918 Phone: 479-785-0582 Website: https://www.rvrfoodbank.org Pantry locator: https://www.rvrfoodbank.org/get-help/pantry-locator
Harvest Regional Food Bank (Southwest AR) Address: 3120 E. 19th St., Texarkana, AR 71854 Phone: 870-774-1398 Website: https://harvestregionalfoodbank.org
Food Bank of North Central Arkansas Address: 1042 Highland Circle, Mountain Home, AR 72653 Phone: 870-499-7565 Website: https://foodbanknca.org
Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (Statewide Support) Address: 200 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1300, Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: 501-399-9999 Website: https://arhungeralliance.org
Community Fridges, 24/7 Pantries & “Take-What-You-Need” Spots: Low-barrier access — walk up, no long intake, many places open 24/7.
Central Arkansas / Little Rock Area Various branches of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) host Little Free Pantries & fridges. Key locations: Williams Library, 1800 S. Chester St., Little Rock, AR 72206; McMath Library, 2100 John Barrow Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204; Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., Jacksonville, AR 72076.
North Little Rock Community Fridge Address: 215 E. 20th St., North Little Rock, AR — take what you need / leave what you can.
Fayetteville / Northwest Arkansas St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Friendly Fridge & Little Free Pantry Address: 224 N. East Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701 Phone: 479-442-7373 Open 24/7, outdoors by the Welcome Center. We Are Nourished Food Pantry / Free Fridge Address: 1021 W. Sycamore St., Fayetteville, AR 72703 Phone: 479-530-4395 Wednesday pantry: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Also 24/7 little free pantry and fridge, plus Sunday community meal at 3:30 p.m. No paperwork required.
Little Rock Emergency Pantries (Set Hours) Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock 1601 Marshall Street, Little Rock, AR Phone: 501-372-4388 Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. City Center Food Pantry 315 N. Shackleford Rd., Little Rock, AR Phone: 501-396-3333 Call Mondays (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) to reserve Tuesday pick-up. Saint Mark’s Food Pantry (Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church) 1000 N. Mississippi St., Little Rock, AR Phone: 501-225-4203 Pantry Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Pulaski County)
Food Support for Kids & Teens
School Meals (during the school year) Breakfast is now free for all public‐school students in Arkansas beginning the 2025-26 school year. For lunch free/reduced questions: call your district’s Child Nutrition office or contact the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Child Nutrition Unit: Phone 501-324-9502 | Mailing: 2020 W Third St., Suite 404, Little Rock, AR 72205.
Summer & After-School Meal Sites Kids (18 & under) can get free meals during summer or after school at approved sites — no proof of income needed. Text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA” for Spanish) to 304-304 → get nearby meal sites. Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE, give your address → they’ll find sites.• Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
Summer EBT (for eligible children) The state participates in Summer EBT: eligible children receive grocery money via EBT card for use when school is out. See application info at: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/District-Operations/child-nutrition-unit/summer-meals
Older Adults, Disabled Adults & Folks Who Cannot Safely Leave Home
Meals on Wheels / Area Agencies on Aging Statewide helpline: 1-866-351-5827 | Mailing: 600 E. Capitol #2815, Little Rock, AR 72203 If you qualify (typically age 60+, homebound, or cannot safely cook) you may get prepared meals delivered and check-in support.
CareLink (Central Arkansas) Phone: 501-372-5300 or toll-free 800-482-6359 Website: https://www.carelink.org/meals-on-wheels/
SNAP Help, WIC & When Benefits Are Cut or Denied
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Apply or check your case online: https://access.arkansas.gov• DHS Customer Assistance: 1-855-372-1084• EBT Card Help (lost card, balance): 1-800-997-9999
SNAP Application Support (through Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s “SNAP-ARK” Call Center) Phone: 1-833-762-7275 (Spanish‐speaking staff available) Main number: 501-399-9999
NW Arkansas SNAP Screening Through the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank: call 479-872-8774 (ask for SNAP help, ext. 222) or use apply.mrelief.com / text “food” to 74544.
WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Address: 5800 W. 10th Street, Suite 300, Little Rock, AR 72204-1703 Phone: 501-661-2508 or toll-free 1-800-253-0002 Email: wic.program@arkansas.gov Website: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/community-family-child-health/wic-women-infants-children/
211 – Arkansas’s 24/7 Helpline Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Arkansas, or text your ZIP code to 898211, or call 1-866-489-6983. They’ll connect you to food, rent/utility help, shelter, etc. Website: https://arkansas211.org
Legal Aid / Civil Support If Benefits Were Unjustly Denied Free civil legal help includes SNAP, Medicaid, disability, housing rights. Statewide Helpline: 1-800-952-9243 (1-800-9-LAW-AID) Website: https://arlegalaid.org
If You’re Not in Immediate Crisis — But Want to Support
Donate to community fridges (milk, eggs, fresh produce, diapers, period supplies) and check local posted rules for drop-off.
Contact your regional food bank and ask: “What are you short on this week?”
Share the 2-1-1 number widely — many don’t know it exists or think it’s only for big disasters.
If someone you know just had their SNAP cut and they’re panicked, offer to sit with them while they call for help (1-833-762-7275 for SNAP-ARK or 1-800-952-9243 for Legal Aid). Paperwork is scary when you’re already out of food.
You deserve access to food. You deserve help applying. You deserve support. These resources exist because our community believes people should live with dignity. Bookmark this. Share this. Use it when you’re scrambling — and keep it for the next time the system falters.
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