HERNANDO, MISS. – May 2025 – A powerful coalition of more than a dozen organizations and 340 volunteers came together last week in Hernando and Clarksdale to pack and distribute 60,000 shelf-stable meals to help fight hunger across Mississippi. Each meal package—nutritionally vetted red beans and rice sourced from local Mississippi farmers—requires only heat and water to prepare. The meals are now feeding thousands of Mississippians through trusted local partners.
Led by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi (CFNM), Extra Table, and Molina Healthcare of Mississippi, the two-day event was made possible through a $50,000 grant from The MolinaCares Accord.
“We are proud to be a part of this statewide effort to combat food insecurity head on, while also supporting local agriculture and improved health and wellness in our community,” said Laurie Williams, associate vice president of growth and community engagement, Molina Healthcare of Mississippi. “Molina is grateful to partner with other organizations that share our commitment to increasing access to critical resources and helping our neighbors across the state to thrive.”
With support from the Maddox Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource HUB, meals were packed across six high-energy volunteer shifts and delivered to 30 food pantries and community organizations serving families in rural and underserved communities.
Meal recipients were identified through a targeted research and outreach process led by Delta Directions Fellow and Ole Miss CREW member Sophie Hathaway, HUB Co-Directors Brenda Smith and Kara Dulaney, and community data partners including the MSU Extension Service. Several meal recipients were also selected based on donor input and fundholder recommendations, reflecting the personal commitment of supporters to address food insecurity in their own communities.
“This initiative reflects the power of partnerships,” said Brenda Smith, Co-Director of the Maddox Nonprofit & Volunteer Resource HUB. “From packing lines to pantry shelves, every step of this project was made possible by community members stepping up to fight hunger and support long-term health outcomes.”
Organizations receiving meals include:
St. James Mission, Care Station, Odessa Grant Food Pantry, St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Faith Food Pantry, Lampkin Street Food Pantry, We2gether, B.B. King’s Diabetes Program, Louise Food Pantry, Fruits of Love Food Pantry, Tulane Food Pantry, Delta Advantage Center, Greenwood Mentoring Group, Compassion Ministry, Delta Hands for Hope, Senatobia Methodist Church, Junior Auxiliary of Tate/Panola, Como Methodist Church, West End City of Hernando, Panola Food Pantry, Desoto Dream Center, House of Grace, Samaritans, Hope Mission, Interfaith Food Pantry, Feeding Hearts Food Pantry, Sunflower County Transitional Shelter for the Homeless, Mosley Outreach Ministries, Mississippi Delta Council of Farm Workers, and the CFNM Emergency Response Supply Bank.
For more information or to get involved in future projects, visit www.cfnm.org or follow us on social media at linktr.ee/cfnm2002.