Poplarville’s Crossroads Food Pantry recently became eligible to receive a $20,000 grant to improve conditions at their distribution facility, but according to volunteers, they need the public’s help.
Tuesday, Walmart announced the launch of the Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign, a release states. The campaign will donate $1.5 million in grants to 75 food pantries, which will be used to purchase new equipment and renovate their facilities.
The company will team up with DIY Network host James Young who will recommend effective ways to use the funds, the release states.
“Food pantries play a vital role in providing healthy meals to their communities. As they face great demand this winter, we’re working to make a positive impact by ensuring that they have the infrastructure to safely prepare and store food so more families can have access to healthier meals,” President of the Walmart foundation and senior vice president of Walmart Sustainability Kathleen McLaughlin said in the release.
According to the release, food pantries are facing their busiest time of year. Today, 49 million Americans, including 12 million children, do not know where their next meal will come from at some point during the year.
From now until Dec. 12, people can vote online for their favorite food pantry by visiting Walmart’s Food Pantry Holiday Makeover campaign.
The food pantry serves clients in the Mississippi River, Ford’s Creek, White Sand and Henleyfield locations, director Sharon Bonnecarre said in a previous Item story. The pantry relies solely on donations and volunteers. Because Crossroads is not government funded, the only criteria is that beneficiaries reside in the service area, Bonnecarrere said.
The food pantry is open the second Wednesday of each month and provides groceries to those in need. Grocery items include meats, canned goods, bread and dry goods.
All donations are tax-deductible and anyone wishing to donate to the food pantry may contact Bonnecarrere at 601-799-3045.
Crossroads Food Pantry is located at 176 Old Crossroads West, Poplarville.
Bruce Bonnecarrere, volunteer and husband of Crossroad’s director Sharon, said he received word of this grant opportunity from their food distributor in Theodore, Ala., Bay Area Food Bank.
“We ask that people vote,” Bruce said. “We need this. The number of clients we serve rises every month. This would be a gigantic boost for our volunteers and clients to get this help.”
Learn more about the campaign and cast votes at www.walmart.com/holidaymakeover.