21 County Last-Mile Meal Delivery Service

The confluence of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the legacy of inequality in African American neighborhoods provided the opportunity for the Urban League of the State of Arkansas, Inc. (“ULSA”) to pilot new programs to stymie the detrimental impacts of COVID-19 on the health, wellness and economic stability of African American neighborhoods across Arkansas.    

Responding to ULSA request for proposals from Arkansas-based food service operations/entities, West Ninth’s successful proposal emphasized our food operations/facilities capabilities via our partnership with the Arkansas State Fair for the immediate food preparation and delivery in large quantities to any of the 45 Arkansas Counties identified by ULSA as under-served.  West Ninth was awarded over $180,000 in grants for 21 Arkansas Counties to obtain, prepare and distribute healthy, locally prepared meals to qualifying Arkansans.  

TOTAL GRANT AWARDED TO WEST NINTH:  $183,300

LAST MILE DELIVERY SERVICES:  21 Arkansas Counties 

MEALS DELIVERED:  21,000

PERFORMANCE PERIOD:  December 22, 2020 through December 30, 2020

POPULATION TO BE SERVED: The household financial eligibility criteria requirements which compares the household size and income to the state income guidelines. (130% of the poverty level).

ULSA TARGETED COUNTIES:

ARKANSAS Ashley CRITTENDEN JEFFERSON POLK

CHICOT CLARK FULTON LITTLE RIVER SEARCY

COLUMBIA CRAIGHEAD JACKSON PIKE WHITE

FAULKNER FRANKLIN LINCOLN SALINE

HEMPSTEAD HOT SPRING NEWTON WASHINGTON

LAWRENCE LEE RAONDOLPH BRADLEY

MONROE NEVADA ST. FRANCIS CLEVELAND

POPE PRAIRIE BENTON DREW

SEVIER SHARP CLEBURNE GRANT

ASHLEY BAXTER DALLAS JOHNSON

CLARK CLAY GARLAND LOGAN

*Highlighted Arkansas Counties were awarded to West Ninth