FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Launched in 2011, Arvest’s 1 Million Meals campaigns have raised an eight-year total of 13,600,098 meals, which includes more than $2.3 million in funds given directly to the bank’s dozens of local food partners.
This year’s campaign total of 2,114,630 meals was made possible through donations from the bank, Arvest associates, customers and community members through fundraisers, events and nonperishable food drives in all Arvest branches throughout April and May. With summer here, the success of the campaign is especially meaningful because many schoolchildren will be without the meals they ordinarily receive at school.
The bank’s decision to provide one million meals was based on the fact hunger is an issue in every community it serves. In 2016, more than 12 percent of American households surveyed were food-insecure, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle for all household members.