State Representative Stetson Painter of Mountain Home has directed $1,000 from a statewide fundraising event to support the Mountain Home Food Basket, a local volunteer-run food pantry.
Painter participated in Serving Up Solutions, an annual gala organized by the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance to raise funds for food banks and pantries across Arkansas. This year’s event, the 19th annual gala, took place on May 21 at the Albert Pike Masonic Center in Little Rock. The event enlists members of the Arkansas Legislative Hunger Caucus to serve as wait staff for the evening. It also features a dinner prepared by Arkansas chefs, raffles, a wine pull, and an auction.
In a post on social media, Painter shared his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the Mountain Home Food Basket. "I was proud to participate again this year and raise money for the Mountain Home Food Basket, which does so much to help our neighbors in need," he said.
Proceeds from Serving Up Solutions are used to provide grants to hunger relief organizations across all 75 counties in Arkansas, as well as to support nutrition education and outreach efforts for programs such as SNAP and WIC. Participating legislators are allowed to nominate a local pantry in their community for a Serving Up Solutions mini-grant of up to $1,000.
The Mountain Home Food Basket, located at 1341 Eastside Centre Court, provides food to area residents in need. The nonprofit is operated entirely by volunteers and remains open from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Saturday. Donations of food or money can be brought to the pantry’s back door from 9 a.m. to noon on these days.
Serving Up Solutions is part of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance’s broader mission to address food insecurity across the state. The alliance supports hunger relief organizations through fundraising, grant distribution, and program outreach.