By K. Monroe Carter
A small but steady act of service is making a big difference for families across Simpson County, as the Theda Berry Food Pantry continues its monthly mission to fight food insecurity and strengthen community ties.
The pantry will host its next monthly food distribution Thursday, April 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 451 Main Street S. in Mendenhall. The event is open to the Simpson County community on a first come, first served basis and will include free food along with a limited giveaway of toys and books for children.
For organizer Hanna Berry-May, the work is deeply personal and rooted in family legacy.
“Theda Berry was a pillar of the Magee community,” Berry-May said. “She moved to Magee in her early 20s to teach school. She lived in a dormitory for single women who taught school. She and her four siblings all served as public educators.”
Berry-May said her grandmother believed strongly in public education and lifelong service. That commitment shaped not only her teaching career but also her lifelong involvement in the community.
“She believed in public schools,” Berry-May said. “I named the pantry after her because she helped so many people in the community, from having a community pool to teach people how to swim, to providing affordable housing, to helping her husband with their business, to sponsoring many events such as the American Heart Association and many more. She was known as the Christmas Lady.”
Today, the pantry continues that spirit of giving, even as it operates under tight resources and community need continues to grow.
Right now, the pantry hosts food distributions once a month and offers emergency groceries on an as needed basis when possible. Supplies are limited and distributions are often self funded while Berry-May works to rebuild donations through partners such as the Mississippi Food Network and Feeding America.
“Our mission is to help fill in the gaps of food needs for those in Simpson County and surrounding areas,” Berry-May said. “I hope it grows to where we can give fresh produce and meat, but for now it is just nonperishable items.”
Berry-May said she has adjusted distribution days based on turnout and community needs, shifting from Saturdays to Thursday evenings to better serve families. She said the effort is built on trial, error and persistence, but the goal remains the same.
“Life can get chaotic and everyone needs help at some time or another,” she said. “To whom much is given much is required. A community is only as good as you make it. Giving back builds connection, something money cannot buy.”
For Berry-May, the pantry is more than a food program. It is a reminder that service, generosity and showing up for others still matter.
And in Simpson County, that mission continues one box or bag of groceries at a time.
