The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith distributed more than 150 this week, continuing a years-long tradition of helping students feed their families over the holiday break.

The annual Thanksgiving dinner giveaway, hosted by the Dave Stevens Lion Pride Pantry, provided UAFS students and employees with a complete holiday meal, including either a whole turkey or ham. In total, pantry staff and volunteers distributed 106 turkeys, 75 hams, and 150 Thanksgiving meal boxes with all the sides and snacks.

The giveaway follows the pantry’s distribution of 194 emergency food boxes on Nov. 6 in response to growing demand and uncertainty surrounding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the River Valley, caused in part by the 2025 government shutdown. That event was held in partnership with the River Valley Regional Food Bank and the UAFS Foundation.

Pantry staff, along with volunteers from the Campus and Community Engagement office, coordinated both events with support from Chancellor Terisa Riley and members of the UAFS Cabinet.

The Dave Stevens Lion Pride Pantry continues to see rising demand, with 303 weekly meal sacks distributed this fall—already surpassing totals from the previous year with four weeks left in the semester.

Weekly meal sack distribution remains available to UAFS students and employees. Additionally, all community members can locate local food assistance through the River Valley Regional Food Bank Pantry Locator, and the United Way of Fort Smith’s Community Resource Guide.

For more information, or to donate food or funds, contact the pantry at pantryFREEuafs.