Healthy nutrition is an important part of everyday well-being, and COVID-19 is amplifying the need for individuals to have access to healthy foods. “The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation proudly supports Mississippi’s communities. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the Foundation is supporting food banks across the state so that Mississippians will have access to healthy foods," says Sheila Grogan, President, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation.
With a vision of a healthy Mississippi, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is providing grant funds to food banks that support 400 food pantries across the state. Through these grants, over 3.2 million nutritious meals will be provided for Mississippians in all 82 counties.The Foundation’s partnership with Mississippi food banks ensures that food is procured, distributed to local pantries and made available to children and adults who need nutritious foods to thrive. For all Mississippians impacted and in need of food, the Foundation is responding and connecting to those in need with grant support to Mississippi food banks. Some of those foodbanks include:
- Mississippi Food Network (MFN) serves 56 counties and in the central part of the state, servicing 228 food pantries. Affiliated with Feeding America, MFN provides food to Mississippians who have unexpected needs due to unemployment or medical needs, and provides food to seniors, children and disabled individuals with no regard to economic, education, racial or cultural circumstances.
- Mid-South Food Bank serves 18 counties and 40 pantries in North Mississippi, in partnership with Feeding America, providing food to low-income families and seniors at risk of food insecurity and hunger.
- Feeding the Gulf Coast serves eight counties in South Mississippi, including many individuals at high risk for poverty and health disparities. The organization works to provide communities with nourishing foods in 81 food pantries to build stronger, healthier families.
- Extra Table partners with 45 food pantries across 27 Mississippi counties with a goal of feeding the most people with the healthiest foods. In addition to the food pantries and with a mission to solve hunger, the organization provides food for school feeding programs and senior “meals on wheels” programs across the state. “It is hard for many of us to wrap our minds around hunger," says Martha Allen, Executive Director, Extra Table. "Being hungry. Doing without. Most of us cannot comprehend the need of so many Mississippians on a regular day, much less a day in the COVID-19 crisis. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is an incredible partner and understands the immediate need to get food to the four corners of our state.”
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.