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In recent weeks in The Lowndes Signal, we received multiple opportunities to highlight food distribution events and giveaways in Lowndes County.

Our county residents in need are fortunate to live in an area where, when need arises within the community, we have agencies, entities, and volunteers eager to roll up their sleeves and aid those in need of additional support.

Whether it’s members of Imago Dei Church, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, or any of our local food pantries doing their part, their efforts are noticed, acknowledged, and appreciated.

According to information available via the Alabama Public Health website, Alabama sits as the fifth poorest state in the U.S. As a result, approximately 17% of adults and 23% of children suffer from food insecurity – defined by the USDA as “as a lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.”

While there are a number of financial assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Alabama Woman, Infants, and Children in place to help those in need of food, not everyone is eligible for these programs.

Everyone has a different set of challenges, struggles, or obstacles. Some in our community may find themselves in positions where health issues force them to choose between paying for medicine or putting food on the table for themselves or their children.

We thank our community leaders and agencies who have done and will continue to do their part to identify deficiencies and ensure people in our communities will not have to go to bed hungry during this holiday season, or at any other part of the year. Our appreciation extends to all volunteers who commit their time to these organizations or donate food in support of these initiatives.

Keep up the tremendous work in helping keep the 45 fed.

For a list of food pantries in Lowndes County, visit https://www.foodpantries.org/co/al-lowndes.