FORT SMITH, Ark. (June 4, 2025) – Arvest Bank will host a community event to reveal fundraising totals from its 15th annual Million Meals campaign. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, in the parking lot of the Arvest Bank Tower at 5000 Rogers Ave. in Fort Smith. Food trucks will be on-site for attendees to purchase food, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit next year’s campaign.
The annual Million Meals campaign, which ran April through May this year, helps raise awareness about food insecurity and collects donations to donate directly to the bank’s more than 80 food partners throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. Arvest associates from the Fort Smith region will also present checks to their food partners during the reveal.
The event, which will feature leaders from the city of Fort Smith and area food partner organizations, will also include a special presentation to honor the late Charolette Tidwell, who founded Antioch for Youth & Family in Fort Smith 25 years ago.
“We’re very excited to celebrate another successful Million Meals campaign and recognize the food partners who work tirelessly all year long to help those in need,” said Jennifer Caldwell, Community Marketing Manager for Arvest Bank – Fort Smith Region. “While our campaign just ended, their work continues, and we want to take a moment to say thank you to them and everyone who contributed to this year’s initiative.”
Money collected during the Million Meals campaign goes directly to the bank’s food partners to help them meet an increase in demand during the summer months when many families with children don’t have the benefit of free or reduced lunches at school. Over 14 years, the campaign has provided more than 25 million meals and collected more than $4.6 million in donations through 2024.
For more information about Million Meals and local food partners, visit arvest.com/millionmeals.
