Wash. County Food Fund awards $50K

Award recipients and presenters gather after the Washington County Food Access Improvement Fund ceremony, including Yulinda Winners of East Park Community Outreach, Elijah Smith of Sacred Space; Jane Crawford of St. Vincent de Paul Society; April of Hodding Carter YMCA, Torri Scott of Hodding Carter YMCA, Amanda Delperdang of Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center, Lora Delhom of Leland Food Pantry, Vivian Maddox of New Jerusalem Church Food Pantry, Crystal Bush of Sacred Space, Chris Bush of Sacred Space and Executive Director Darla Herrin of Community Foundation of Washington County.

Washington County Board of Supervisors Chairman Carl Magee

Leaders, nonprofits and faith-based groups gathered last month as the Washington County Food Access Improvement Fund awarded $50,000 in grants to fight hunger.

The fund — a partnership between Mars Food and Nutrition North America, Delta Group and the Community Foundation of Washington County — has given $217,000 since 2023 to expand access to healthy food.

Mars Foods Greenville Factory Manager Rickey Adger

This year’s recipients include East Park Community Outreach, Extra Table Feeds, Hodding Carter YMCA, Leland Food Pantry, Mississippi Delta Nature and Learning Center, New Jerusalem Church Food Pantry, Sacred Space and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Community Foundation Executive Director Darla Herrin, Supervisor Carl Magee, Mars Foods Factory Manager Rickey Adger and Terri Lane of Delta Group spoke and presented the awards. Attendees said the event felt like a celebration of hope, with neighbors coming together to make a big difference for local families.

Applications for the 2026 grants open in January at cfwashco.org.