Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi

11/10/2026

We're grateful for the generosity of the great people of Northeast Mississippi who give freely to help provide for the food insecure.

The Hunger Coalition and their partner agencies distribute an incredible amount of food to those in need every year but we don't do it alone. Our work is only possible because of the generosity of all those who help us do what we do. Thank you, donors.

11/09/2026

What a great way to support the community.

11/09/2026

Statisticians and researchers may not be at the top of your gratitude list but we’re grateful for those who spend their lives doing demographic studies about poverty, hunger, and the impact on health, growth, learning, and life choices. Because of the “numbers”, we have a better understanding of the extent of hunger, the depth of the need, and ways to help when families experience the crisis of not-quite-enough.

One in five people in Northeast Mississippi are food insecure.

That truth rocks our world and pushes us to keep doing what we do. One in five. That’s way too many but, because we know, we press on.

11/08/2026

We’re grateful for the refreshment of active rest, whether it’s riding a bike for more than 100 miles or urban sketching and watercolor painting outdoors on a beautiful day. What does the refreshment of active rest look like for you?

11/07/2026

We posted about the importance of gratitude last week but we’d be remiss if we didn’t also share some of the things/people for which we’re grateful. First of all, we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve those in need, not only in our community but through partnerships with organizations throughout our eight county area. We’re also for those who’ve shared their stories with us at just the right moment and helped us keep pressing on.

A few years ago, a trucker called Jason to say she had a truck load of produce that was rejected at the delivery point. She’d been told to dump the food but she could’t bear to waste it. She wondered if the food pantry could use it. Yes, he told her and hurried to meet her with a refrigerated truck.

After they finished transferring the produce, the trucker shared her “why.” When she was a girl, she used to ride with her grandmother to the St. Luke Food Pantry to get a food box every month. That food was vital for their family at the time.

She’s self-sufficient and doing well now but it was a great joy to be able to give back to those who gave to her and her grandmother when they were in need.

For Jason, that truckload of rejected produce (all of which was perfectly edible) represented the full-circle goal of community outreach: Helping people through a hard time so they can one day help other people going through a hard time.

One week Leanna was short on a few food items for the weekend food bags so she stopped by a local store to purchase the remaining supplies. After she loaded dozens of each of two different items onto the checkout counter, the cashier just stared at the pile of food for a long moment. Finally, she looked up and asked, “You sure have a lot of these Compleat meals. You gonna eat all of them?” Leanna explained they were for weekend food bags for students at a local school.

The cashier had tears in her eyes as she described her situation as a single mom of three children. “Even with all the overtime I can get, it’s just not quite enough since all the prices went up.” All three of her children receive weekend bags and they’ve eased the pinch of rising prices. They chatted for a few more minutes and, as Leanna turned to leave, the cashier said, “Be sure to tell whoever packs those bags how grateful I am. I don’t know how we’d make it without them.”

When the Sam’s cart is loaded with more food than she can comfortably stuff into her car, Leanna remembers that sweet mom’s words and the tears of gratitude in her eyes. They put a face to the effort and remind her that the weekend food programs aren't about bags, they're about children in need who would be hungry without them.

There are people all over northeast Mississippi who can’t quite make it without a little help and we, who are so blessed, can make the difference between disaster and survival for families on the edge. Want to help change the world for families in need? We’d love to partner with you.

11/06/2026

Fun Friday

(feel free to share our silliness on your feed)

11/05/2026

11/05/2026

The first Thursday of November is designated as "Men Make Dinner Day." It may seem like a silly thing to celebrate but the ability to make a healthy meal is no joke. If there's only one person in the household who knows how to cook, what happens when that person is sick? In the hospital? Out of town? All too often the answer is fast food take out and that's seldom a healthy meal.

Men, if you're not usually the cook in your family, why not give it a try today? It's a great time to learn a new skill along and have fun family time together.

Guys, give us your best ideas for healthy meals? What's your go-to when it's your turn to cook?

11/04/2026

King Tut’s tomb was discovered November 4, 1922, more than 3,000 years after his death. His tomb contained a fascinating array of items, including 48 boxes of mummified meat and more than 100 baskets of other food items, including fruits, grains, breads, and honey. None of it was edible after three millennia (although their are unfounded rumors that someone from the archeological team tasted the honey and found it still palatable) but it highlights the importance of proper food storage.

A few decades ago, a family vegetable garden was a common source of fresh produce during the growing season and preserved food for the time between growing seasons. Canning, freezing, and dehydrating food are all great ways to preserve food. Home-canned and dehydrated food are also good ways to have healthy food for the inevitable winter storm and resulting power outage.

Even when a power outage is of short duration families still need food. Will stores still have food? Yes. But if you’ve shopped during a power outage, you know how quickly the shelves empty. If your pantry isn’t full of home canned food this year, how can you prepare to feed your family during a loss of power?

Here are a few helpful suggestions to get you started:�1. You’ll need to store one gallon of water per person per day. This provides for cooking, drinking, and limited hygiene needs.
2. Store food in containers with tightly closed lids to protect it from pests/insects.
3. Dried fruit, meat jerky, and powdered milk all have long shelf lives and can be stored in glass jars or other containers. They are easily rehydrated and can serve as a base for an easy meal.
4. Trail mix (nuts, seeds, and dried fruit) and peanut butter are both easy sources of protein and energy and can be eaten without any preparation.
5. Shelf-stable milk is available at Dollar Tree and also has a long shelf-life.
6. Canned food often has a high sodium content but can be very helpful during an emergency as it can be eaten straight from the can. Be sure you have pull tab tops or a manual can opener.
7. If you plan to cook on a camp stove or grill (outside) be sure to have matches or a fire starter and a pot for cooking. Be sure it has a metal/heat-proof handle. You’ll need a pot holder, too.
8. Dried beans are a good option but most will need to be soaked in water for a few hours before cooking. Lentils, rice, oatmeal, and grits do not require presoaking so may be easier options.
9. Don’t forget coffee or tea and something sweet. Honey has a long shelf life so it’s worth including in your disaster food plan.
10. Hard candies such as peppermint can also serve as sweetener for hot beverages.

Consider keeping your emergency supplies on a designated shelf so that they can be accessed easily but be sure to rotate supplies so they don’t spoil before you have a chance to use them. Rehearsals are always a good idea so why not have a “disaster drill” with your family to try out your emergency meal plan and supplies?

Be prepared. It’s not just a good idea. It can be life-saving.

11/03/2026

Would you rather be cold or hungry?

If your answer is "neither," we agree but, as temperatures drop and heating bills increase, low income families often face hard choices. Budgets can only stretch so far and there's not always enough extra to cover unexpected or rising seasonal costs.

Are you or someone you know struggling with food insecurity? The hard reality of too little in and too much out is one of the reasons Hunger Coalition exists. We collaborate with food pantries, weekend food programs, and hot meal services to provide needed assistance to those in need.

Comment below or message us. We'd love to connect you with those serving in your area. We can't meet every need but, together, we can make a difference.