Mid-South Food Bank — celebrating 40th anniversary — remains unflinching in its mission

Jennifer Chandler, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·5 min read
2

The Mid-South Food Bank has held the same mission for the past four decades: Change lives by eliminating hunger in the Mid-South.

Founded in 1981, the Mid-South Food Bank is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. (The celebration was delayed from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

On average, the food bank serves 50,000 households in one month, with about 280,000 individuals served each year.

“We continue to see a great need for food in our community," said Cathy Pope, Mid-South Food Bank president and CEO. "With increased food prices, gas, rent and utilities, lines at our food distribution continue to be long. We want to ensure that our families are getting the nutritious food they need to be healthy and thrive. Our mission is to change lives by eliminating hunger in the Mid-South, and with the support of our community, that is just what we work on every day.”

The Mid-South Food Bank at 3865 S. Perkins Road.
The Mid-South Food Bank at 3865 S. Perkins Road.

The food bank opened in November 1981 with seven partner agencies consisting of food pantries and soup kitchens. Pope said getting those seven to come on board was not easy.

“They found it hard to believe that they could pay 10 cents a pound for food and get anything decent,” she said. “The very first shopping list featured grapefruit juice and beef bouillon and little else.”

Orange Mound:Feeding and fostering the community: A look inside the Orange Mound Sustainability Hub

Memphis news:A grocery store on wheels? The Works' Mobile Grocer hits the streets in Memphis

Over the years, the service has expanded as the organization shifted from initially being part of MIFA, to becoming a member of Feeding America (the national network of food banks) to eventually becoming an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Today, the Mid-South Food Bank serves 31 counties in the region.

We sat down with the Mid-South Food Bank team to discuss the food bank and the need for its services.

Mary Jane Woodford was a food sorting volunteer at the Mid-South Food Bank on Nov, 8, 2022.
Mary Jane Woodford was a food sorting volunteer at the Mid-South Food Bank on Nov, 8, 2022.

Q: What is the need today in Memphis for your services?

Cathy Pope, Mid-South Food Bank president and CEO: “The need has continued to remain high compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Due to inflation, our agencies are reporting seeing more families with children. In 2019, Shelby County had a food insecurity rate of 12.4%. In 2020, that rate increased to 13.7% with 128,000 food insecure individuals just in Shelby County alone. In all 31 counties we serve, we have over 300,000 food insecure individuals.”

Southwest Community Development volunteer Andre Burgess Jr. and his son Tracie shop at the Mid-South Food Bank's Agency Mart on Nov. 8, 2022.
Southwest Community Development volunteer Andre Burgess Jr. and his son Tracie shop at the Mid-South Food Bank's Agency Mart on Nov. 8, 2022.

Q: How did the pandemic impact the need for your services?

Pope: “Prior to the pandemic, our food bank served 16.7 million pounds of food a year. During the height of the pandemic, we served 55 million pounds of food in our 31 counties. We are at about 30 million pounds a year currently. It has become more challenging finding food in the quantities we need it. But we continue to work on that every day.”

Q: How has the food bank changed over the years?

Pope: “Mid-South Food Bank has grown from serving six counties to 31 counties. We now offer a multitude of services: mobile pantries, child nutrition (BackPack and Kids Café), senior boxes, the NOW (Nutrition on Wheels) Truck, rural routes, Door Dash boxes (food delivered directly to homes), a Diaper Bank (diapers, feminine products and adult incontinence products) and SNAP Assistance.”

Mid-South Food Bank Director of Agency Partnerships and Program Services Shari Douglas (far left), Diaper Bank manager Dornesha White (middle), and Sir Lawrence Crutcher (right) sort diapers for the Diaper Bank.
Mid-South Food Bank Director of Agency Partnerships and Program Services Shari Douglas (far left), Diaper Bank manager Dornesha White (middle), and Sir Lawrence Crutcher (right) sort diapers for the Diaper Bank.

Q: In 2019, the Mid-South Food Bank moved to its current (and larger) location. How has the move improved your outreach?

Pope: “This new facility made all the difference in how we have served the community during the pandemic. We have been able to turn around large quantities of food quickly because of the additional square footage. We currently have large freezer and cooler space and increased the number of meals served because of that space. The community made this warehouse possible, and we continue to be grateful for that support.”

From Tonyaa Weathersbee:Too many old people are going hungry in Memphis. That's why we must fix youth poverty

North Mississippi:'It's definitely affected how much people can purchase': Inflation hits DeSoto County

Q: How many meals does a $1 donation provide?

Pope: “Our goal for this next 12 months is 36 million pounds served, and $1 serves three meals as we are getting food from different resources — purchased, USDA commodities and donated.”

Q: How is the food bank dependent on volunteers?

Hayes Leslie, Mid-South Food Bank volunteer manager: “It takes up to 500 volunteer man-hours per week to sort and pack donations. This is a volunteer-only task and we do not use any employees.”

The Mid-South Food Bank picks up a donation of food.
The Mid-South Food Bank picks up a donation of food.

Q: What is the biggest need for donations?

Nicole Johnson-Willis, Mid-South Food Bank marketing and communications manager: "We have a need for non-perishable food items like canned meats (like tuna and chicken), chunky-style soups and chili, peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, dried beans and rice. We also need non-food items like paper towels, toilet paper, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and diapers.

"Non-perishable items are always accepted, but monetary donations make a bigger impact. For every $10 donated, Mid-South Food Bank can provide 30 nutritious meals."

Allison Bennett (right) and her daughter Bryn Bennett volunteered to sort food at the Mid-South Food Bank on Nov. 8, 2022.
Allison Bennett (right) and her daughter Bryn Bennett volunteered to sort food at the Mid-South Food Bank on Nov. 8, 2022.

Q: What is the best way to support the food bank?

Pope: “Go to our website midsouthfoodbank.org to donate food, funds or schedule a time to volunteer.”

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Mid-South Food Bank: A look at Memphis charity's history, mission