POPLARVILLE — An all-volunteer organization provided 27,000 pounds of food to 360 households here in the past month.

 Brother’s Keeper Ministries has been feeding those who need help since it was chartered by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office as a non-profit corporation on Sept. 29, 2000.

 In the first eight months of this year, Brother’s Keeper distributed 190,650 pounds of food to 2,542 households made up of 3,158 adults, 1,736 children and 1,332 senior citizens.

 Brother’s Keeper was the brainchild of ministers at two area churches, said Wayne Alexander, the only president the executive board has ever had.

 Grants, including one from the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation, and donations from area churches, civic organizations, schools and businesses keep Brother’s Keeper going.

 A vital part of the food pantry comes from Wal-Mart in Picayune through the nationwide Feeding America network, Fuller said.

 Families must meet the USDA guidelines for income and family size to receive assistance from Brother’s Keeper. The food supplements the SNAP benefit (formerly food stamps), which provides just $4.50 per day per person.

 Brother’s Keeper is located at 208 N. Main St. in Poplarville. Volunteers are welcome to drop by or contact the ministry at 601-795-3173 or by email at brotherskeeper01@att.net