Hundreds of cars line up to get food donations in Hancock County amid COVID-19 pandemic
The parking lot of an empty casino became a way to fill Coast families’ stomachs on Thursday as multiple nonprofits and volunteers came together to set up a mobile food pantry in Hancock County.
The United Way of South Mississippi and Gulf Coast Community Foundation partnered with the Hancock Resource Center to bring the parking-lot pantry to the Bay. Volunteers set up stations early in the morning throughout the Silver Slipper’s parking lot with food from Feeding the Gulf Coast.
Bread, peanut butter, meat and fresh veggies were packed and ready for hundreds of families to pick up meals without having to leave their cars.
“People who aren’t working may need a boost in getting some groceries and feeding their families,” said Kathy Springer, CEO of United Way South Mississippi. “Food insecurity in the country we live in should never happen. The thought that families are putting food on the table because of this day ... It’s what we should be doing.”
Dozens of cars were lined up before the food distribution began at 10. Each car stopped at three stations where volunteers wearing masks and gloves loaded boxes of food according to the family size given at check-in. The organizations took extra precaution to ensure the volunteers practiced social distancing.
More than 300 families were able take home food from the pantry, many waving and thanking volunteers as they drove by.
Jourdan Hartshorn, mission ambassador for Feeding the Gulf Coast, said the organization has fed more than 1,600 Coast families through mobile food pantries, and the need has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We like these set ups because all people have to do is open their trunk, volunteers load the food and they keep on rolling,” Hartshorn said. “They go home and get to eat a good meal.”
He said the demand has come from families who are not able to afford groceries due to layoffs.
“We’ve never seen anything like this. Even after a hurricane people are able to return to work,” Hartshorn said. “We’ve seen a big increase in unemployment. Seeing people say ‘thank you,’ and ‘God bless,’ it touches my heart.”
The Coast Is no stranger to disasters, it’s also no stranger to neighbors helping neighbors.
“We have been through many disasters in the last 15 years,” Gulf Coast Community Foundation President Rodger Wilder said. “To be able to respond to the needs of the community is great.”
“If we work together, we can come back. We have a lot of experience coming back from disasters.”
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 5:00 AM.