A local business has a food bank during its annual event

Starkville, Miss. (WCBI) – Food is a huge need in the region and community members are making it their goal to make sure their neighbors in the golden triangle don’t go hungry.

Take it or leave it.

This is what people in the community do with canned food from local food banks.

Rex Buffington, co-director of the Casserole kitchen, says his organization offers a small pantry outside the kitchen, and people are welcome to get what they need or add to the pantry at any time. .

“These pantries help a lot too because they’re there all the time and people walk by and get what they need and people can walk by and bring food and leave it there, they don’t have need what somebody else needs,” Buffington said.

Buffington says no matter the season, there are always people who need their help.

“People are hungry all year round and so they come all year round and it’s not really different in terms of the seasons. Throughout the year we see around 50 people for each meal and that’s not not always the same people, but it’s about that number,” Buffington said.

Buffington says during the holidays he sees more people donating, but in the spring and summer the donations come in more slowly.

“We also do a lot of holiday food drives around Thanksgiving and Christmas. we really have a lot of organizations that are really focused on that and they’ll be doing food drives and bringing in those cans and then we’ll give them out. we don’t have that many during the year, but we regularly provide hot meals 3 times a week,” Buffington said.

Food drives may not be as common in warm seasons, but they are still there.

2 years ago, Camgian, a local Starkville business, added a food drive to their annual Lunch and Walk event.

Office manager and event organizer Ann Johnson says Camgian is very committed to supporting the community and tries to help out as much as they can.

“We know there is a food shortage in the area and we have participated and been involved in some of the local food banks and pantries and we know what it takes to feed the locals who have no cannot afford to buy groceries for themselves. a great mission and it’s a great way to support our neighbors and provide solutions to a need,” Johnson said.

Johnson says local businesses are also doing what they can to help support the cause.

“Some of the restaurants and local businesses have donated gift cards and other items for the raffle and we are able to encourage people to bring canned goods and raffle off fun prizes,” said Johnson said.

It’s about helping the community.

If you want to help solve this food shortage, you can always find Starkville Strong or The Casserole Kitchen on Facebook.