Local charities receiving support during crisis
When Mississippi Power announced a $350,000 commitment to support customers and small businesses across the service territory, $50,000 was set aside for local charities.
Division managers Tommy Murphy and Michael Harvey immediately reached out to their area and local managers to begin compiling a list of agencies to support.
“Our local managers are the ‘boots on the ground’ in the towns that we serve,” Coastal Division Manager Tommy Murphy said. “They knew right away how to best make an impact with our donations.”
For Harvey, he and his team wanted to make sure food banks and shelters in the Northern Division’s local towns were included as well.
“While we’re supporting charities in Hattiesburg and Meridian, we knew the need was just as great in towns like Waynesboro, Columbia and Union,” Harvey said. “This is an unprecedented situation, and we know there’s going to be an unprecedented request for help from these agencies.”
Once the list was approved, the Mississippi Power Foundation began distributing funds this week so the organizations could begin supporting their communities.
Pastor Tyrone Lewis of Triumph Church of Gulfport will use the $1,500 grant he received to purchase non-perishable items for the church’s food pantry. The church has also started a weekly grocery giveaway.
“Many families in our community have to juggle between meeting household expenses and affording quality food. Low-income households are being hit the hardest right now,” Lewis said. “People are being laid off and we don’t know when things will turn around. That’s why we organized a food pantry program.”
The Edwards St. Fellowship Center in Hattiesburg typically sees an increase in need at their food pantry and medical clinic in the summer, when kids are home from school. With schools currently closed through April 17, Executive Director Ann McCullen says more families are asking for help right now.
“We’re seeing an amazing number of people who have never been here before. They’ve never needed a food pantry before,” McCullen said. “This donation will go directly to feeding needy families who aren’t sure when the next paycheck is coming in. I’m so thankful for companies like Mississippi Power for recognizing this need and allowing us to help more people.”
In Meridian, the East Mississippi Community Foundation set up a crisis recovery fund for COVID-19 relief. This fund is being used to buy food and supply services to those affected by the pandemic, and for unforeseen needs as they arise.
“This is all so new and we don’t really know everything that we’re dealing with in regard to this virus,” Executive Director Leigh Thomas said. “We are working with a growing network of community partners to make sure these funds are used in the most effective way possible.”
Just last week, through a grant from EMCF’s Crisis Recovery Fund, the Volunteer Hub of East Mississippi helped deliver 175 bags of groceries to homebound citizens.
Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 188,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. With nearly 160 megawatts of approved solar energy capacity, Mississippi Power is the largest partner in providing renewable energy in the state of Mississippi. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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