Community Saves Food Pantry With 40 Years of Service

When the building housing Union County Good Samaritan Center hit the market in May, nearly 40 years of community service nearly came to an end.

The nonprofit food pantry faced losing its location after serving Mississippi families since 1986. Rather than watch their lifeline disappear, Union County residents launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the property.

They succeeded. The center now owns its building and continues serving about 500 families each month with emergency food and financial assistance.

Director Shonna Floyd describes the operation as organized chaos. Staff and volunteers prepare food boxes, unload delivery trucks, greet clients, restock shelves, and clean between distributions. Their work extends beyond the pantry itself.

"We jump off at least one car a week," Floyd said, referring to the emergency car repairs volunteers provide to families in need.

The numbers tell the story of persistent need in Union County. Last year alone, the center distributed more than 332,000 pounds of food to nearly 5,500 families. Staff also provided over $45,000 in assistance for rent, mortgage payments, and utilities.

Summer months bring increased demand when donations typically slow down. The center relies on churches, businesses, individual donors, and volunteers to keep shelves stocked. Food comes primarily from the Mid-South Food Bank and Walmart's Feeding America program.

The Ripple Effect

The center's mission goes beyond meeting basic needs. Floyd emphasizes preserving dignity for every person who walks through the door.

"We do all we can to preserve the dignity of each person," she said. "One goal is to help each person who comes through the door to the best of our ability."

Clients receive food boxes containing meat, dairy, grains, snacks, and drinks. Limited financial assistance is available once per year, with a lifetime cap of four instances for those who meet income requirements.

When the building's future became uncertain, the community that had received help for decades returned the support. Their donations ensured the center's permanent home.

"People say it takes a village to care for a community," Floyd said. "For nearly 40 years, the Union County Good Samaritan Center has seen the truth in those words."

Now safely housed in a building they own, the center continues its simple mission: to feed, help, encourage, and serve their community, one neighbor at a time.