Arkansas Rice Depot*

Even in the midst of a recession, Arkansas Rice Depot has managed to increase its revenue. That's a good thing, because the recession has made the work of the nonprofit, founded in 1982, more important — and more challenging — than ever.
"We have experienced tremendous growth over the years," said Laura Rhea, president and CEO. "And for the last two years, there have been huge increases in the number of families going to food pantries and soup kitchens, asking for help to feed their families."
Arkansas Rice Depot is a statewide food bank that provides food and nonfood items to the poor, working through four programs: Food for Families, Food for Seniors, Food for Kids and Disaster Relief. The organization distributed more than 8 million pounds of food and supplies in 2009.
To increase revenue, the Rice Depot has engaged in more creative marketing, Rhea said. It appears to be working because the nonprofit was expecting 2010 revenue to rise by 8.5 percent, to $16.6 million.
Innovation and creativity are hallmarks and strengths of the Rice Depot.
An example is Food for Kids, a program started in 1995 that serves hungry schoolchildren. "When we found children in public schools were going hungry, we didn't say, 'Their parents should go to food pantries.' We said, 'Let's see if we can't do something. Let's get the food to where the kids are instead of trying to get the parents to come to where the food is,'" Rhea said. Food for Kids is now in about 55 percent of Arkansas schools and has been replicated in more than 40 states and 118 food banks in the U.S.
The Arkansas Diaper Depot is another example of innovation. Day cares don't accept children in cloth diapers, Rhea said, forcing working mothers to use expensive disposable diapers. The Diaper Depot serves these mothers.
It's important to tell the Rice Depot's story, Rhea said, because once "people learn about Arkansas Rice Depot, they are so willing to support what we do."

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