Happy Monday!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and a smooth start to the week. As we step into December, here are a few updates, reminders, and external grant opportunities to keep on your radar.

Capacity Building Grant

The 2026 Capacity Building Grant application is now open and will remain open December 1, 2025 – January 9, 2026. This grant supports Local Hunger Relief Organizations in expanding or improving their capacity through items like equipment, storage, transportation, garden supplies, meal-prep tools, or office equipment. Funds cannot be used for salaries, operational expenses, or food purchases. 

We will host a virtual Capacity Building Grant Training on Tuesday, December 16, at 10 am. During this Zoom session, we’ll walk through the application together, go over the required documents, and answer any questions you may have. A recording will be emailed afterward and added to the member portal so you’ll be able to watch it even if you can’t attend live.

You’re welcome to start your application whenever you’re ready- just be sure to save it and keep it in draft until you’re fully ready to submit. If you plan to attend the training or watch the recording, it may be helpful to wait to submit in case you want to make any edits based on the information shared.

If you need help accessing the Grant Portal, aren’t sure whether your organization already has an account, or need your login reset, please email me, and I’ll be happy to help.

Email is also the best way to reach me with Capacity Building Grant questions. It gets very busy this time of year, and email helps me stay organized so I can make sure everyone gets the support they need in a timely manner. 

A quick reminder that the rescheduled date for Turnip for Hunger is this Saturday, December 6, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Heifer Ranch in Perryville.

We invite our member organizations to join us to harvest turnips and greens for your pantry. It’s a meaningful, hands-on morning outdoors, and all remaining produce will be delivered to Arkansas food banks to support families across the state.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Dress warmly, enjoy the fresh air and bonfire, and take back fresh produce for your community.

Date: Saturday, December 6
Time: 9:00 AM – Noon
Location: Heifer Ranch – 55 Heifer Rd., Perryville, AR 72126

Upcoming External Grant Opportunities

Arkansas Community Foundation – Giving Tree Grants: The next Giving Tree cycle opens January 10. These grants support a wide range of local projects across Arkansas and may be a great fit for community or pantry-related work. Learn more here.

Blue & You Foundation – Mini-Grants: Blue & You offers $1,000–$5,000 mini-grants each quarter for projects that support community health, food access, pantry equipment, emergency medical items, and maternal/child health needs. Applications open on the first day of each quarter (Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1, Oct 1). Learn more here.

Please reach out directly to these organizations with any questions about eligibility, fit, or the application process, as they will have the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Thank you for all you do to support Arkansans in need, especially during this busy holiday season. If you have any questions or need help getting started with the Capacity Building Grants, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your partnership and hope to see some of you this weekend!

Best,

Samantha Collins Osburn

Executive Assistant & Membership Manager 

Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance