Entergy Arkansas Employees Empowered To Help Neighbors in Need

By Lamor Williams

LITTLE ROCK, AR / ACCESS Newswire / December 29, 2025 / During this season of giving, Entergy Arkansas is doing more than powering communities across its 63-county service area, the company is empowering its employees to make a direct difference in those communities throughout Arkansas for neighbors facing hardship. In the past month alone, Entergy Arkansas has directed $30,000 to hunger-relief efforts statewide at the request of employees who saw needs in their communities.

Drew County effort delivers support through February
In Drew County, a local food program that serves 156 senior citizens and disabled residents was temporarily paused due to relocation of a distribution site during the recent federal government shutdown. When Customer Service Manager Amanda Killingsworth, a lifelong Drew County resident, learned of the issue, she quickly mobilized support. She reached out to co-workers and more than 2,600 people on Facebook to sponsor a month of food for $60 per recipient.

Two weeks later, she and colleagues were shopping in bulk, assembling meals with volunteers and delivering boxes by Entergy truck and trailer.

"Entergy truly loves the communities it serves," Killingsworth said. "When your company president, vice president, managers and co-workers ask, ‘What can we do?' you realize you're surrounded by people who believe in service just as much as you do."

With Entergy Arkansas's support and donations Killingsworth helped raise, every program participant - and several additional residents in need - received food boxes with enough supplies to last through February.

Hunger Relief Alliance strengthens statewide food access
Statewide, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance has also been working to keep shelves stocked at its six regional food banks and more than 500 community partners during the months when many Arkansans were not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Entergy Arkansas provided a $20,000 grant to support that effort.

Entergy Arkansas Director of Public Affairs John Bethel, who serves as president of the Alliance board, said the grant filled a critical gap.

"This support helped the Alliance provide food to food banks and pantries across the state, helping fight food insecurity and meet the critical needs of our neighbors," Bethel said.

Alliance CEO Sylvia Blain said Entergy's partnership strengthens hunger-relief work across Arkansas.

"Entergy's investment strengthens our statewide network and ensures rural communities, seniors, and families have access to healthy food and emergency support," Blain said. "We are grateful for Entergy's continued leadership through John Bethel. His advocacy and service have strengthened hunger-relief efforts statewide and helped connect Entergy employees to the needs of local food pantries."