Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance

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Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance provides grocery store tours to help low-income Arkansans shop smarter. | Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance ofrece visitas guiadas a supermercados para ayudar a los habitantes de Arkansas en situaciones vulnerables a comprar de forma más inteligente.

 También puedes leer este artículo en español, Confianza en la Cocina

As Arkansas faces one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, alongside Feeding America food bank members, local hunger relief agencies, volunteers and corporate partners, is working to make healthy eating more accessible and affordable for all Arkansans.

Through its Cooking Matters program, the Alliance offers free cooking classes and grocery store tours designed to teach low-income families how to shop smarter, reduce food waste and prepare nutritious meals for under $15 for a family of four. The goal is to build long-term habits that promote health without straining the wallet.

“Nutrition education is a powerful tool,” says Liam Hankins-Hull, a nutrition educator at the Alliance. “We’re helping families read food labels, plan meals and stretch their grocery dollars, all while learning practical cooking skills.”

Participants learn not only about healthy diets, but also essential life skills like budgeting, meal planning and pantry organization. Lessons are built around the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines and include hands-on cooking demonstrations, both in person or online.

Among the program’s most impactful and unique initiatives are its grocery store tours, where participants learn how to compare prices; choose between fresh, canned or frozen foods; and make informed decisions based on unit pricing. Also, recipes are offered which families can use to plan affordable, easy-to-make meals.

The Alliance collaborates with churches, libraries, hospitals and community gardens to deliver these programs throughout the state. Everything is free, including recipe books and kitchen kits with basic tools that include measuring cups, measuring spoons, a cutting board and a produce knife.

“We want people to feel empowered in their kitchens and confident in their food choices,” Hankins-Hull says.

For those interested in volunteering, opportunities range from helping with community gardens to assisting with classes. Spanish-language resources are available to better serve Latino communities.

This September, in recognition of Hunger Action Month, the Alliance is hosting events and classes to raise awareness of food insecurity in Arkansas and nationwide. “We can all be our own best detectives when we’re at the grocery store shopping for our families,” Hankins-Hull says.