Groups United to Provide Free Christmas Dinners to Those in Need

Tue, 12/01/2020 - 07:18pm | By: Van Arnold

The Mississippi Network for Cancer Control (MNCC) at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation are doubling their impact this holiday season by providing 50 Christmas dinners to recently diagnosed cancer patients and underserved populations this holiday season.

For the past several years, the organizations teamed up to assist 25 families with free Christmas dinners. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in requests due to lost jobs and related issues. Consequently, the groups worked to solicit extra contributions to support an additional 25 families in the rural Mississippi Delta, where poverty is overwhelming.

MNCC Director and Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation Founder/Director Freddie White-Johnson notes that the pandemic has created even greater hardships for families already dealing with complications associated with cancer.

“Navigating through this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, as well as cancer and the lack of basic resources, is a challenge that no one should have to face alone,” said Johnson. “We are very humbled to assist these individuals and their families. And we are sincerely grateful to everyone who has supported our efforts to help those in need.”

Each dinner will feed up to eight people per household and will be distributed on a “first-come-first-serve” basis. To apply, individuals can call or text White-Johnson at 662.392.5458 by Monday, Dec. 7, 2020.

The dinners are sponsored by the Mississippi Network for Cancer Control at USM and the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation in collaboration with the Greenwood Community and Recreation Center, Inc.; Locust Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Greenwood; Harlow’s Casino Resort & Spa; and Greenwood Marketplace. Funding for the dinners is provided by donors through Facebook and PayPal at www.flhcf.com.