Hoping to give back this Christmas & New Year? Here’s where you can donate in South MS
Charitable giving surges at Christmas, and the need keeps going all year.
In Mississippi, where the average cost of groceries recently ranked among the most expensive in the country, local food banks and charitable groups say families increasingly need help even after the holiday season.
Here are several of many organizations across South Mississippi accepting donations through the New Year. A full list of non-profits across the region can be found on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce website. Send information about other local charitable groups to msanchez@sunherald.com.
MS Coast charities
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign continues online through the holiday season. Contributions to the campaign go toward The Salvation Army’s year-round charitable efforts in South Mississippi. Donations can be made on its website at mscoastkettle.org.
The Salvation Army’s food pantries also always need nonperishable food, said marketing coordinator Morgan Shiyou. Donations can include items such as canned, pop-top foods that the homeless can eat without cooking. Families need cereal and easy to prepare foods including mac and cheese, canned vegetables, beans, rice and snacks. Donations can be made through food drives or The Salvation Army pick-ups. The Salvation Army also accepts drop-off donations at any of the organization’s South Mississippi locations.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center in Biloxi has a zero dollar registration fee in January, Shiyou said. The center’s home school program needs donations of music and art supplies. The center also accepts scholarship fund donations.
United Way of South Mississippi
United Way is a nonprofit group that partners with local businesses, government and social service agencies to help improve education, community resilience, health, family support and financial stability in Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River and Stone counties.
CEO Kathy Springer said 99 cents of every dollar donated stays in the organization’s four South Mississippi counties. United Way sponsors Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a children’s literacy program, in South Mississippi. It also sponsors nine tuition free Pre-K classrooms in Harrison County and Gulfport schools.
United Way of South Mississippi accepts donations through its website, www.unitedwaysm.org, or by texting “UWSM” to 91999.
Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence
The Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence runs two domestic violence shelters on the Coast and accepts donations on its website. Donations can also be made by check payable to: Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence, PO Box 333 Biloxi, MS 39533.
The organization always needs volunteers, including as sexual assault volunteer advocates, donation pickup and delivery volunteers and art group volunteers, among others. Information on how to apply is found on its website.
The Humane Society Thrift Store also accepts clothing and goods donations on behalf of the Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence. A shelter wish list is posted on its website.
Back Bay Mission
Back Bay Mission is a nonprofit agency that serves homeless and impoverished people in Biloxi.
Back Bay Mission has one-time and regular volunteer opportunities. Those interested in volunteering can contact the non-profit’s director of development through the Back Bay Mission website.
Donations can be made online through its website or mailed to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288 Biloxi, Mississippi 39533. It also accepts Walmart and Lowe’s gift cards, and compiles online wish lists for its food pantry, homeless outreach program and its day center.
More food pantries and food banks
The Lord is My Help has a food pantry at 1205 Desoto St. in Ocean Springs. It accepts donations Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Lord is My Help also accepts donations on its website.
Feed My Sheep serves the hungry and needy in Gulfport. It accepts food drives of #10 cans and non-perishable items and volunteers. Donations can be made on its website or sent to PO Box 6883, Gulfport, MS 39506.
The Hancock County Food Pantry gives free food once a month to low-income Hancock County families. It accepts monetary donations on its website or mailed to PO Box 4313 Bay St. Louis, MS 39521. It also accepts donations through food drives.
The nonprofit group Feeding the Gulf Coast is also accepting donations, and its website allows users to search by zip code for dozens of other food pantries and resources across the region.
More charitable groups
The Hancock County Community Development Foundation accepts donations and lists funds on its website for an emergency shelter, a work ready program and tree planting, among others. The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce also list more charitable opportunities online.