Spoonfed Blog

Another August means another substantial food donation from Tyson Foods for struggling households in several Mississippi Delta counties, thanks to coordinated efforts again from Miss. U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson’s office in Washington, D.C. On Aug. 7 th , Tyson truck driver Mendez Arnold wheeled the 18-wheeler full of chicken products – totaling 36,000 lbs.– from Russellville, Ark., onto the Tunica County G W Henderson Senior Rec Center parking lot. It’s... Read More

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from Tyson Foods, Mid-South Food Bank held, with critical help from volunteers, a Mobile Pantry food distribution on April 29 th in Newbern, Tennessee. Boxes full of fruit, meats, vegetables and bakery items totaling over 10,000 lbs. were provided for residents of Dyer County, including employees of the local Tyson Foods plant. It was the first of monthly distributions for a year. The first one helped 252 households, while the future ones could help up to 300 in a... Read More

When First United Methodist Church’s Food Pantry coordinators in F ulton, Mississippi, were presented with the opportunity to host a Mobile Pantry distribution, they said yes - with smiles. The Partner Agency’s volunteers knew how significant the extra food would mean to the 400 households who arrived early for the distribution on March 22. The food insecurity rate in Itawamba County is 14 percent. Its residents describe the small community as one that’s divided by the... Read More

By R.M. Brooks, Chairman, Pinecrest Weekend Snackpacks for Kids One cold January evening inside a church in Alcorn County, Missisippi, near the Tennessee state line where Union soldiers marched for destiny at Shiloh, I drafted a prayerful pledge to do something for others. It was a decision that has drawn many collaborators to the powerful idea of providing food and hope for families. I did n ot know where to start that day eight years ago, but everything just came together quickly.... Read More

from WMC TV-5 Federal workers who have not been paid for four weeks are receiving help to provide food for their families. “We need it to end yesterday,” Williams said. “That’s just how soon. Not today. Not tomorrow. Yesterday.” Volunteers like Tammy McFarland from Cornerstone Baptist Church filled cars with those essential items for federal employees. “We all work for a reason, to provide for our families,” McFarland said. “So, if... Read More

At Samaritans food pantry in Horn Lake, Miss., the 25-year old Mid-South Food Bank Partner Agency serves an average of 150 households every month. Executive Directo r Ed Flynn says the pantry’s operations continue to hinge on strong community support, including assistance from United Way, the Horn Lake, Miss. Chamber of Commerce and an array of churches and individuals. Sixteen volunteers manage the facility, located near Interstate 55. They order about 1,000 lbs. of food from... Read More

In partnership with Mid-South Food Bank, a Healthy School Pantry opened its doors last week on the campus of a Shelb y County Schools alternative school. The pantry is inside a former ROTC building at George Washington Carver College and Career Academy. “The only meals some of our students get are breakfast from us and also lunch. Besides that, a lot of our students aren’t eating at home,” said  Carver Principal Dr. James Suggs. Twice a month, the pantry will help feed... Read More

by  JACKIE MADER, THE HECHINGER REPORT More than a quarter of families with kids experience food shortages In a 12-month period in 2016-17, more than one of every four Mississippi households with children — 25.8 percent —  lacked enough money to buy the food they needed , according to a new report by the Food Research & Action Center. That rate is the highest of any state in the nation, and over 7 percentage points higher than the 2017 national average. At... Read More