RiceDepot.Org | Disaster Relief

Aiding Arkansans In Need
When disaster strikes Arkansans, the Arkansas Rice Depot Disaster Relief Center goes into action.

Working with other relief organizations who provide hot meals and lodging during those first hours & days, supplies from the Arkansas Rice Depot Disaster Relief Center are distributed to folks to help re-establish their lives as they return to their homes or to transitional housing. We provided household supplies, food, blankets, towels, linens, personal care items and other things needed to set up their homes.

Response To Katrina
As many as 75,000 evacuees fled to Arkansas during the two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. Now, an estimated 11,000 households -- some 30,000 people -- remain in the state needing long-term assistance.

The individuals working to help the hungry and the homeless in Arkansas have always depended on Arkansas Rice Depot and we did not let them down during hurricane relief efforts! None of our disaster relief efforts are funded by government sources and our name is not as high profile as national charities, yet our efforts are significant and much needed. Your support allowed us to help those in need! In late 2005 & early 2006, we distributed over one million pounds of food and supplies to over 25,000 Hurrican Katrina evacuees in Arkansas.

Your continued support through financial contributions, food drives or preparation of disaster kits will allow us to serve the victims of future disasters.

Disaster Kits
The Arkansas Rice Depot relies on Arkansas churches and other organizations to help provide supply kits to those affected by a disaster. With the large number of hurricane evacuees coming to Arkansas, the need for these kits is even greater. We will be happy to accept donations of the supplies used in these kits so that we can assemble them at the Rice Depot. However, we also welcome any group who would like to purchase and assemble the packs prior to delivering them to our facility. Presently, the items most needed are emergency food packs, personal care kits, school kits and children's kits (see contents of kits below). One of the best ways to assemble supplies for these kits is through a Disaster Relief Supply Drive.

Click each of the flyers below to download them in .pdf format.

Disaster supplies are also used to assist needy school children whose parents don't provide their basic needs. A personal care kit can give a child a boost in self confidence. A children's kit can be given to a child in need of comfort in times of crisis. An emergency food pack can be sent home in a backpack for a child who would otherwise go hungry at night.

The contents of each kit is listed below. If your church or organization would like to assist the Arkansas Rice Depot by preparing kits, please contact us at (501) 565-8855 or via e-mail at endhunger@ricedepot.org.

PERSONAL CARE KITS
Please place these items in a zip-lock bag. If
you opt to include a wash cloth and towel,
please wrap the items in the towel.
- Bar of soap
- Shampoo
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Comb
- Deodorant

HOUSEHOLD KITS
Please place these items in a brown paper sack.
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Comet
- Sponge
- Dishwashing liquid
- Laundry detergent
- Dish cloths
- Trash bags

EMERGENCY FOOD PACKS
Please place these items in a zip-lock bag.
- Granola bar, Pop-Tart or small cereal
- Canned fruit or pudding cup
- Juice box
- Saltines, peanut butter or cheese crackers
- Canned meat or meal (tuna, chili, soup, etc.)

CHILDREN'S DISASTER KIT
Please place in a large ziplock bag or small box (such as a shoebox).
- Book about God or feelings
- Religious coloring book and crayons
- Small stuffed animal
- Toy fire truck, ambulance or police car

LAYETTE KIT
Please wrap these items by placing them in a receiving blanket. Wrap as though the blanket were a diaper and use the pins to keep it together.

- (2) Receiving blankets
- (1) Washcloth
- (2) One-piece outfits - (2) Nightshirts
- (4) Diaper pins
- (4) Cloth diapers