More than 100 families received food from the Crossroads food distribution center on Tuesday.

The effort was possible through a grant from the Bay Area Food Bank of Mobile, who provided the center with a $950 grant that purchased 5,000 pounds of food. The food was divided between 115 families, said Crossroads food distribution center director Sharron Bonnecarrere.

Volunteer Bruce Bonnecarrere said the organization was able to buy so much food with that much money because they purchase food for about 19 cents per pound.

Food items included dried goods such as spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, breads and a number of other items.

Crossroads food distribution center serves the Poplarville area from Ford’s Creek to Heneleyfield.

This grant allowed the organization to provide food to more families than in the past. Typically the center is only able to provide food to about 60 families, and does so about once a month.

Crossroads food distribution center was established after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 by Jean and Buddy Giddens, said Sharron Bonnecarrere. Sharron said she has been volunteering at the center for the past five years.

Most of the time food is purchased by the center through community donations averaging about $750. On a typical day the center is staffed with less than 10 volunteers, but this recent effort involved 32 volunteers.

“We get a lot of support from the community,” Bruce Bonnecarrere said.

In order to receive food the center checks to see if recipients are county residents. The amount of food received is based on the number of people in the household, Bruce Bonnecarrere  said.

In November the center plans to hold a fund raiser near the Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department in order to continue their efforts. The event will feature barbecue chicken plates and raffles for a Coach designer handbag and a shotgun.

Sharron Bonnecarrere said last year’s fund raiser brought in more than $4,000.

To donate to the Crossroads food distribution center call 601-799-3045