The uncertainty of where one’s next meal is coming from has long existed in the lives of many, but that uncertainty seems to be felt now more than ever.
While there’s no single, long-term resolution for such a widespread problem, Hearty Helpings Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen is on the frontline providing food items and meals for those in dire need while stores deal with shortages and residents deal with the effects COVID-19 on their income.
Founder and executive director of Hearty Helpings Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen Pandora Redmon said, “When we first heard everybody was being shut down and about the virus, I knew food would be an issue, it’s already a big issue now and it’s even bigger and more strenuous because people are panicking and buying out at the stores.”
Feeding the hungry and serving those less fortunate is essentially Redmon’s lifework, but to her, it’s not just that alone — it’s a life ministry.
Upon hearing the news, Redmon took the necessary steps, prepared her facility and staff for service and contacted the mayor’s office to ask for assistance as she would be serving several people in need of food and canned goods.
She contacted the Mississippi Food Network, which helped to replenish the pantry with extra food, and she reached out to various other places such as Uncle Ben’s, Mars and even Dollar General seeking food donations.
“Our goal is to relieve some of the tension and stress of worrying about food,” Redmon said. “Kids are out of school and we can’t just provide a meal for them, but we can help assist with food in the household.”
Redmon highlighted how hometown people of Greenville who reside in other states are stepping up to lend a helping hand as well.
“We had a donation all the way from Dallas, Texas. Bailey Wynne donated a substantial amount on behalf of her mother and father, the Rev. Mose and Mrs. Catherine Williams,” Redmon said.
The faith-based community lent its support as well with Pastor Tom of Sacred Heart donating food as well as St. James Episcopal Church.
Redmon was so moved by how willing people in the community were to pitch in and stand in the gap for such a cause.
Greenville resident Brent Hazzard donated hot meals to Hearty Helpings from Sherman’s Restaurant on behalf of his mother, the late Barbara Hazzard.
“Terri Lane of Delta Volunteer Hub recommended we partner with Sherman’s Restaurant,” Redmon said.
“I reached out to the community asking for volunteers and I had several people to respond; by us being limited to only 10 people in the building, along with my staff, I can only use one or two of them a day,” she explained.
Redmon said their main goal was to get as much food into Greenville residents’ homes before they are faced with a potential lockdown and to a place where Hearty Helpings can sustain them during the COVID-19 crisis.
She emphasized the importance of community involvement and support with Hearty Helpings not being a grant-based initiative, but one in which donations are its primary funding source.
“This is my first time receiving this many donations, but it’s been the provision of God sustaining us in order to help this community,” Redmon said.
She recalled a few years ago when her operation was halted due to the fire at Looking Good, which was the building in which Hearty Helpings conducted its service.
“I went from passing out food from the back of my truck because after the fire we didn’t have anywhere to go and eventually, I had a barbershop to operate in and I turned the rear of it into a food pantry,” all the while still serving food for the soup kitchen, Redmon explained.
Though heartbroken over the fire and the impact on Hearty Helpings, Redmon said she began to see there was divine purpose in what took place.
“I see now what God was doing because he knew a time like this was coming in which we would need more because I was in a comfort zone in the old building, which was small, but I was comfortable,” she said.
Redmon said she imagines now at times, they are serving up to nearly 300 people a day, families included.
On Monday, Hearty Helpings served 125 families and initiated its plan to have a drive thru pantry, keeping in line with the guidelines set by the city.
Redmon pointed how beautiful of a thing it is to go from being temporarily displaced by a fire to having a building to serve those in need and house almost 50,000 pounds of food.
She attributes such a large quantity to the Greenville Public School District as it donated nearly 14,000 pounds of food during the Christmas holiday and to the City of Greenville.
Because of those contributions, Hearty Helpings had a surplus of canned goods in addition to being able to give out foods such as milk, cheese and even poultry.
“We’re a part of Feeding America whereas Walmart in Indianola donates three times a week and we get fresh fruit and vegetables and dairy from them,” Redmon said.
In addition, Hearty Helpings received donations from Extra Table of Hattiesburg whom the pantry connected with via the Mississippi Food Network.
Hearty Helpings held food giveaways every day this week but beginning Monday, it will go back to the original schedule of three days a week.
Redmon said with her having such a small number of people on her staff which includes she and her husband, along with two employees and two volunteers, the work at the pantry can be taxing as it serves at least 1,000 people per month.
Nevertheless, she remains committed to her cause and optimistic about the future.
“I want people to know that we will get through this; it’s painful now but God is doing something on the other side of this,” she said. “I’m looking at victory and believing it’s going to get better.”
Redmon added she has high hopes of the community coming together and individuals offering their support because the load of helping to sustain those in need can get heavy.
She highlighted the impossibility of doing what she’s been able to do so far without God showing himself faithful.
“There’s no way I could’ve done all this with just five or six employees,” she said. “He’s our God of provision, we’ve just got to have faith.”
