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The Antioch Youth and Family Thanksgiving Food Drive will be Wednesday, November 16th at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Fort Smith, Principal Charolotte Tidwell said.

With inflation this year and higher food prices at grocery stores, more people have needed food at the weekly food giveaways at Antioch For Youth & Family in Fort Smith. An increase in need has been reported in the past month across the country.

The Thanksgiving food drive will be from 10 am to 1 pm at the park, 1815 N. Greenwood Ave.

The food giveaway was recently postponed and moved from Kay Rodgers Park to Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Fort Smith families with children need food and a traditional Thanksgiving holiday meal, Tidwell said.

For the November 16 draw, volunteers are asked to arrive at 8am

Only two families are allowed per vehicle. A driver’s license or photo ID is required.

Volunteers from local churches will deliver Cornice chickens to low-income apartment complex residents with children. The volunteers are from New Life Church South Dallas in Fort Smith, Harvest Time Church in Fort Smith and Refuge Ministries in Van Buren. Fort Smith police are also helping deliver food.

“Delivery allows additional protein to a large population of homes with children and no transportation,” Tidwell said.

Those interested in volunteering can email the organizers at antiochvolunteerthanksgiving@gmail.com.

Also in Fort Smith, the River Valley Regional Food Bank is helping provide meals for the holiday season.

The food bank announced a partnership with Google.org and Feeding America to help deliver meals to Arkansans as part of a campaign to help provide about 50 million meals nationwide, according to a food bank press release.

Feeding American has reported a 90% increase in the need for food across the country in the past month, according to the statement.

The River Valley Food Bank is asking for donations of non-perishable food items, as well as those who would like to host a food drive or fundraiser. Volunteers are also being sought for the food bank, located at 1617 S. Zero Street.