Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi

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Tupelo, MS
Hunger Coalition of Northeast Mississippi

Our mission is to reduce food insecurity in Northeast Mississippi by collaborating with hot meal services, food pantries, and weekend backpack programs.

09/06/2026

Watermelon - yellow or red? Seedless or with seeds? What's your preference?

09/05/2026

It's Labor Day weekend and we're already thinking about firing up the grill. We love a fully-dressed burger, grilled veggies, and ice cold watermelon for our Labor Day celebration. What's your fav Labor Day meal? Whatcha cooking? We'd love to see photos!

09/04/2026

The first Friday of September is Bring Your Manners to Work Day so we’re focusing on bringing your manners to the table, too. Good manners are as much about being thoughtful toward those around you as they are about following a set of rules.

1. When we sit down to eat with others, the goal to actually eat with them. Leave your phone in your pocket, not on the table, and wait to start eating until everyone is seated. Be all in.

2. When we eat with others, we want to make a positive impression so always chew with your mouth closed.

3. If it’s worth saying, it’s worth being understood. Swallow before you speak instead of talking with food in your mouth.

4. No one wants someone else’s sleeve in their food. If you want something that’s on the other end of the table, don’t reach over someone’s plate. Simply speak to the person seated next to you, and say, “Have some ____ (whatever the food is you want) and pass it please.” Be sure to say thank you when the food is delivered.

5. When you’re finished eating, don’t put your dirty fork, knife, or spoon on the table and make more work for the person who cleans off the table. Instead, put them on the rim of the plate.

6. Relax. No one is likely to grab your plate and run with it. Instead of hunching over your plate as if you have to protect it, sit up straight, (elbows off the table, take your time, and bring the food to your mouth with your fork or spoon. Savor every bite.

7. Everyone likes to be appreciated so be sure to say thank you to the one who prepared your meal even if it was not your favorite food.

Someone has said, "Good manners are the grease that keeps the wheels of society going round." We don't know if that's true or not but, just in case, let's do our part and remember our manners.

What other good manners do you recommend?

09/03/2026

The Empty Sunday School Room that didn’t stay empty…

Sixteen years ago, a few women in a local church recognized the need of food insecure families in the south end of Tishomingo County. They felt God had called them to do something, so they did. It began in an empty Sunday School room at a local church in Belmont MS..

The empty room didn’t stay empty long. It became a local food distribution center for those in need and, in a short time, the food ministry outgrew the space. In 2017 they moved to their current location at 11 Front Street, Belmont MS. The outreach the ladies started became the South Tishomingo County Food Pantry, led by director Carolyn Criddle. They typically serve 200-250 families each month.

The pantry partners with Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis Tennessee, which is part of the Feeding America network. They order from a weekly shopping list that includes USDA food as well as food purchased with donated funds from area churches and individuals. They also purchase locally when certain items are not available through the Food Bank. In addition to financial support, Belmont Schools helps keep the shelves stocked through food and cereal drives.

Services: They distribute food on the fourth Friday and Saturday from January through October. In November and December, the distributions are held on the third Friday and Saturday so families will have food available for Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the holidays. they usually provide items such as stuffing mix and cranberry sauce, along with a turkey, turkey breast, or whole chicken, all purchased with donations.

Eligibility: They serve residents of zip codes 38827, 38838, and 38873 in South Tishomingo County. Proof of residence is required, along with total household income and the names and birthdates of all household members.

Their mission statement says: “The South Tishomingo County Food Pantry was established to help meet needs in our community by providing food to those experiencing food insecurity. Our desire is for every person we serve to be treated with love, respect, kindness, and grace.”

Their scriptural foundation for the mission comes from Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

When asked about her favorite pantry story, Carolyn said, “One of the most rewarding parts of this ministry is seeing the relief and gratitude from families who know they have somewhere to turn doing a difficult season. Every family has a story, and each one reminds us why this work matters.”

Her “why” is simple: “We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to families experiencing food insecurity. We want each person who comes through our doors to know they are cared for, valued, and not alone.”

Needs: Their two biggest needs are ongoing financial support and donated food items.Financial donations are always needed and deeply appreciated. These gifts have the greatest impact and often go much further because they allow them to stretch each dollar by purchasing food in larger quantities at lower prices and obtain the specific food and essentials they most. Donated items help keep the shelves stocked for the families who depend on the pantry.

Financial donations may be sent to:
South Tishomingo County Food Pantry
P.O. Box 744
Belmont, MS 38827

Funding: In addition to donations from ten local churches, businesses, and individuals, they also seek grants to help purchase food for the families they serve.

How to volunteer: It takes a village to maintain an outreach of this size and they welcome volunteers. Check out their page where you can contact them and volunteer: .

Final words: “We are grateful for the continued support of our churches, businesses, schools, volunteers, and individuals who make this ministry possible. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every act of kindness helps us serve families with dignity and compassion. May we always strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

We hope you’ll help The South Tishomingo Food Pantry continue their beautiful gift of service to those in need.

09/02/2026

Micro-, Macro-, and a Quick Look at What We Need

If you’re read much about nutrients, you’ve seen comments about macronutrients and micronutrients. These words sound fancy a

nd scientific, but they’re very simple. “Micro” means small and “macro” means large. Micronutrients are things you need in small quantities, like vitamins and minerals, while macronutrients are things you need in large quantities to provide energy and keep your body working as it should. Macronutrients include protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

Micronutrients include Vitamin A, the eight B vitamins, and Vitamins C, D, E, and K as well as thirteen different minerals (calcium, chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc).

We’ll eventually talk about all the micro- and macro- nutrients but for today let’s focus on Vitamin A. It’s a fat soluble vitamin and is stored in the liver. We don’t need a large amount of Vitamin A plus we can store the extra we take in, so it’s possible to get too much Vitamin A.

Toxicity from excessive intake is real and not something we want to experience. Massive overdoses of this vitamin can severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, drowsiness and irritability. Long term overuse can damage your liver, cause damage to bones, including osteoporosis, and can cause hair and skin chances. When a pregnant woman takes too much Vitamin A, it can cause birth defects.

There are two forms of Vitamin A. Preformed Vitamin A is found in animal products including meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products. The precursors to Vitamin A, know as “provitamins” are things our body uses to make Vitamin A. Beta carotene is the most common precursor and is found in fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin A is best known for its role in helping with eyesight but it helps with skin and hair health as well. It’s readily available in orange and yellow vegetables and fruits, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables, eggs, and cheese. Unless your doctor tells you to take a Vitamin A supplement, you should be able to get enough by eating a healthy and balanced diet.

09/01/2026

September is Better Breakfast Month so we’re starting off with a look at breakfast around the world. There was a time not too long ago when breakfast in the South meant eggs, bacon and/or sausage, toast or biscuits, and gravy with homemade jam or jelly on the side. Although it wasn’t the healthiest breakfast, it was filling with protein, fat, and carbs, and carried us through the morning. Now, we’re more likely to have yogurt, fruit, and a bit of homemade granola, overnight oats with fruit, or an oat muffin for breakfast.

In China, however, breakfast is more likely to be a mix of rice, greens, mushrooms, tofu and possibly strips of meat or eggs. Our friends in Costa Rica have gallo pinto for breakfast. It’s black beans and rice served with eggs or chopped meat and fresh fruit.

In Greece, breakfast might be spinach pie made with feta cheese but in Nigeria, it’s more likely to be a porridge of yams, rice, and maybe a bean cake.

No matter where you live, we recommend a breakfast with fiber, protein, healthy fats, and rich in antioxidants. Here are a few suggestions to try:
- Yogurt, fruit, and a small serving of whole-grain granola.
- Boiled or poached egg with whole grain toast and sliced fruit.
- Whole grain oatmeal topped with fruit and a small glass of low-fat milk.
- Overnight oats made with low-fat yogurt and fruit.
- Poached egg with sautéed mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and chopped sweet potatoes.

One of our favorite slow-morning breakfasts is what we call Breakfast Skillet. It’s simple to make.
Heat the oven to 350.
In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onions, peppers, chopped sweet potatoes, and mushrooms in olive oil until the onions are soft. Add salt, pepper, and herbs to taste. You can add spinach or other vegetables as desired. Remove the skillet from the heat. Break one egg for each serving over the partly cooked vegetables and slide into the oven. Bake until the vegetables are soft and the eggs are set. Usually 20-30 minutes. Sprinkle a little of your favorite cheese (optional) and serve while hot.

Which breakfast sounds best to you? What’s your go-to breakfast?

08/31/2026

Road Trips and Trail Mix. Can you have one without the other?

Trail mix has been around for thousands of years. A blend of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, it’s high in protein and healthy fats. Since it’s easy to carry and doesn’t require cooking or other preparation, it was perfect for ancient peoples who took long hunting journeys or searched for more favorable land.

You can use trail mix as a base for granola but the two treats are not the same. Trail mix may contain roasted nuts but it’s basically a mix of raw foods. Granola, on the other hand, is based on rolled oats. It also contains nuts, seeds, and dried fruit but is mixed with a syrup of honey/maple syrup and butter or oil, then baked. It’s high in protein and healthy fats, too, but also high in carbohydrates and sugars.

Want to prepare some trail mix for you next road trip? Combine raw or roasted nuts, a variety of seeds, some dried fruit and, if you’re feel adventurous, some chocolate. Put it all in a travel-safe container and you’re ready to ride.

Where in the world would you most like to go with your trail mix?

08/30/2026

Rest is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Do you have a day during the week for rest? What's your routine? These sweet pups are all about an afternoon nap but what feels like rest to you?

08/29/2026

Can you help? We're interested in best practices for Blessing Boxes.

If you help manage a food blessing box, what has worked well? What is most frustrating about the box and supplying it? What doesn't work? Do you also put hygiene items in the box? Diapers? What tips and recommendations can you share?

If you've ever received food from a blessing box, did you find what you needed? Did you receive enough for one day or multiple days? What would be most helpful? What are your practical recommendations?

Comment below or message us. Thanks in advance.

#
foodblessingbox

08/28/2026

Fun Friday:
Question: What do you call a rabbit eating a bell pepper in a hotel?
Answer: A Bell Hop!

(Gus, pictured below, has never eaten a bell pepper in a hotel or outside of a hotel but he's eaten a lot of other green things.)

Address

454 East President Street
Tupelo, MS
38801

Telephone

+16624321894

Website

http://www.hungercoalitionnems.org/

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