“It’s Thanksgiving time, and the food pantries of the Robert Neal Food Pantry Network are grateful to God for the many helpers and donors He has raised up to help us do His work,” said Joe Young of Charleston, who organized the network.
In October, the food pantries served 1,739 people from 691 families. About 520 of those are children living at home, and a little more than that are senior citizens.
Since 2011, about 2 million pounds of food has been distributed, but much went out before then. Records have only been kept since then, though the pantries were serving well before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many of the seniors citizens are WWII veterans and veterans of other wars, with some clients over 100 years old.
Numbers come up this time of year, as people employed in seasonal agricultural work become unemployed, along with others whose work is outdoors. And the arrival of the holidays puts many families in a financial crunch.
A handful of individual donors, and a handful of churches, keep the pantries open with their financial gifts and by sending volunteers.
Chartered by Calvary Chapel at Parchman and Faith Baptist Church in Charleston, those churches’ food pantries began with financial support and in providing storage and distribution facilities. The pantries could not exist, however, were it not for the support of the entire Christian community.
Occasionally, grants are received from organizations like the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi and the Meek Foundation. Modern Woodmen has given significant in-kind donations of food, and Sayle Oil Co. has provided free shipping for food coming to Charles-ton over the past 10 years.
The food pantries cannot overlook the many food donations that come in each month from donation boxes located at SuperValu in Charleston, and from food drives in schools on both sides of the county and in surrounding counties.
The food pantries never turn anyone away who asks for food. Food received from USDA as a government donation is not available to all clients, but from the other private sources, food is distributed to all.
During holiday times, the pantries try to provide quality meats such as turkeys, hens, and hams for holiday tables. When they are unable to provide the meat for every table, they provide meat for the tables of the larger families.
Food pantries in the network do not go to businesses and ask for donations, because this is a Christian ministry. The pantries are here to serve, and not to take.
Individuals who wish to donate can do so through food boxes, or by sending to Food Pantry, 705 George Payne Cossar Blvd., Charleston, MS 38921. All are tax deductible.
