By: Daily Journal
The thought that some residents in our communities across Northeast Mississippi won’t have enough to eat today is a troubling reality that seems completely distant to our way of life.
But the truth is that Northeast Mississippians are going hungry each and every day or are having to make difficult decisions like whether to spend a paycheck on food or paying a bill.
That’s happening right here in our backyard and is impacting more people than you’d think for an area that’s a hub for industrial and retail activity.
An estimated 19 percent of Lee County residents, for example, suffer from some form of food insecurity, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food insecurity can range from someone not having enough to eat to a child facing meager meals at home in the evenings or on weekends compared to what they might receive at school.
In light of those alarming statistics, community leaders announced last week the formation of a coalition aimed at tackling the serious and pressing problem that is food insecurity.
The CREATE Foundation’s Tupelo/Lee County Community Foundation and the United Way have fostered the creation of the Tupelo/Lee County Hunger Coalition.
The coalition, as reported by the Daily Journal’s Caleb Bedillion, intends to act as a hub between local food banks, nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and government bodies.
By serving as a conduit of so many far-reaching organizations, the coalition seeks to tackle the issue together as one united front to help those in need.
And that need is truly great.
That 19 percent figure amounts to roughly 16,270 residents of Tupelo and Lee County that must choose whether to purchase food for their families or pay for things like rent, utilities or medications.
And while some truly tremendous efforts are already taking place individually by nonprofit groups or churches, the need is still great.
Take this statistic, for example. The Mid-South Food Bank, based in Memphis, is one of several organizations that partners with local food pantries and meal sites to distribute food. In 2015, the group distributed 1,245,139 pounds of food for Lee County alone. Yet that’s still not enough to reach all those in need. According to estimates by local leaders, it would take more than 3,000,000 pounds of food to ensure we fully meet the need in our community.
Perhaps the greatest reality of all is that the section of our community that’s impacted the most from this issue is young children and the elderly. Children face risk of delayed development and chronic health conditions, among many other things, from going hungry, while seniors also face serious medical risks if they lack the resources or are unable to prepare food for themselves.
Gone are the days where the issue of hunger seemed half a world-away, left only for those living in third-world countries.
When our fellow community members are going hungry, it means that we as a community have work to do. The forming of this coalition is a significant first step on the long journey toward progress.
In light of those alarming statistics, community leaders announced last week the formation of a coalition aimed at tackling the serious and pressing problem that is food insecurity.
The CREATE Foundation’s Tupelo/Lee County Community Foundation and the United Way have fostered the creation of the Tupelo/Lee County Hunger Coalition.
The coalition, as reported by the Daily Journal’s Caleb Bedillion, intends to act as a hub between local food banks, nonprofit organizations, churches, schools and government bodies.
By serving as a conduit of so many far-reaching organizations, the coalition seeks to tackle the issue together as one united front to help those in need.
And that need is truly great.
That 19 percent figure amounts to roughly 16,270 residents of Tupelo and Lee County that must choose whether to purchase food for their families or pay for things like rent, utilities or medications.
And while some truly tremendous efforts are already taking place individually by nonprofit groups or churches, the need is still great.
Take this statistic, for example. The Mid-South Food Bank, based in Memphis, is one of several organizations that partners with local food pantries and meal sites to distribute food. In 2015, the group distributed 1,245,139 pounds of food for Lee County alone. Yet that’s still not enough to reach all those in need. According to estimates by local leaders, it would take more than 3,000,000 pounds of food to ensure we fully meet the need in our community.
Perhaps the greatest reality of all is that the section of our community that’s impacted the most from this issue is young children and the elderly. Children face risk of delayed development and chronic health conditions, among many other things, from going hungry, while seniors also face serious medical risks if they lack the resources or are unable to prepare food for themselves.
Gone are the days where the issue of hunger seemed half a world-away, left only for those living in third-world countries.
When our fellow community members are going hungry, it means that we as a community have work to do. The forming of this coalition is a significant first step on the long journey toward progress.
