United We Feed, a food drive to resupply food pantries and kitchens in Choctaw, Winston, Oktibbeha, and Webster counties, ended its annual gathering reently after meeting its 25-ton goal.
The food drive is sponsored by the United Way of North Central Mississippi along with local organizations.
Nonperishable food was collected through donations for the past three and a half weeks. Eighteen recipients across the four participating counties will be resupplied with food.
Choctaw County will host a Pack the Trailer on December 12, from 2-6:30 at the Choctaw County Library in Ackerman to close out the fundraiser.
United Way of NCM's Executive Director Candy Crecink said the community support this year continued raising the bar for the project and allowed them to collect food in record numbers.
In 2018, the project collected just over 18 tons of nonperishable food items, but Crecink said she was sure 2019's number was much higher.
"We definitely met our 25-ton goal," Crecink said. "It all came from the community. This is an example of what can happen when a community comes together."
Crecink commented on the Choctaw County collections by noting. “Wow and triple wow!”
She added, “How proud we are of each and every neighbor of Choctaw County. This is definitely neighbors working with neighbors. Michael Bishop is phenomenal.”
Michael Bishop, United We Feed county leader, added, “The 2019 United We Feed Food Drive has come to a end for 2019. We were bless from the Community Support, especially from our schools. Every School in the Choctaw County played a major role this year.”
French Champ Academy under FCA Cheer sponsor, Tonya Barlow collected 1,404 pounds of food by FCA students.
Ackerman Elementary was not far behind in there efforts. Students collected 1,403 pounds.
The winning class was Mrs. Lisa Pallords PRE-K class. Weir Elementary collected donations of 702 pounds.
Each year the Choctaw County High School/Jr. High Beta club helps with food collection as a service project for the food drive. This year total for the club was:1,240 pounds
The group will also receive turkey donations from North American Coal Mine in Ackerman
Also, a number of church donated items as part of there regular giving to the food ministry.
Supervalu donated 625 pounds of items to the food Ministry this year.
The group also gaind $51 from food collection and a check for $250 from the Choctaw County Wild Turkey Federation. All funds collected were turned into pounds of food at a discount rate from the Mississippi Food Network for 3,612 pounds of food.
All 9,962 pounds of food was donated to the the Choctaw County Food Ministry.
The group also thanked Costa Mexican Restaurant, Dexi Gas, Supervalu, Barlow Blue, Choctaw County Library, Forget Me Not, Pap's Place, and many others for support.
