Natural State News

Legends Resort & Casino, operated by Cherokee Nation Businesses, has partnered with the Arkansas Foodbank to provide meals for families in Pope County earlier this month, according to a press release.

These resources are expected to provide approximately 17,500 meals to Pope County residents.

“As a proud member of the community we are consistently impressed by the many acts of kindness and generosity that is commonplace throughout Pope County, especially within great local organizations such as the Arkansas Foodbank and its partnering agencies,” said Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses. “Food security programs provide an invaluable resource for our most vulnerable community members. We are honored to help support these efforts and to ensure individuals and their families are getting the nutrition they need.”

Approximately 16.8% of Pope County residents are categorized as food insecure by Feeding America, a U.S.-based non-profit with a network of over 200 food banks nationwide that also measures the risk of hunger in communities. This number is expected to rise to 19.8% due to challenges from the coronavirus pandemic that began last year.

“Arkansas Foodbank is grateful for community partners like Legends Resort & Casino,” said Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas Foodbank CEO. “Their generosity is helping us make sure families have enough food to eat so they can live healthy, hopeful lives.”

The resources provided by Legends Resort  & Casino will be distributed to seven local Pope County agencies that regularly receive food from Arkansas Foodbank. These agencies are First United Methodist Church, Russellville; Hector Cumberland Presbteryian; Zion Lutheran Church; Salvation Army, Russelville; River Valley Food 4 Kids; Arkansas Tech University and Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church.

“Thank you to Legends Resort and Casino for their recent donation to the Arkansas Foodbank,” said Terri Kulbeth, of First United Methodist Church of Russellville. “The gift helps us to continue our necessary food distributions for our Pope and Yell County patrons during the COVID-19 pandemic.”