VIDEO: Local Relief Agencies Searching For Donations

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)-

By: Salena Schaffer

“What we make at Christmas, if we make enough it carries us over through February and March and what we got from April on through the summer it is the most difficult time.” said Major Alan Phillips with the Columbus Salvation Army.

“The number of calls are increasing and that lets you know that there is that food insecurity … and that they are really hungry.” said R.H. Brown, who runs a local food pantry in West Point.

There is a major food shortage here in Columbus one that can only be solved by giving both cash and commodities.

“You can’t just do that one time a year. There has to be a constant giving because like I said 1 in 4, 1 in 5 kids suffer from food insecurity.” said Brown.

Between, food, clothing and other supplies, local relief agencies are seeing an all time low in donations.

They want the community to know that they appreciate their holiday donations but to realize they are helping those in need year round.

“Food is by far our biggest need and we do food on Tuesday and Friday and we can have as much as 20 to 30 people here, families that need food.” said Phillips.

Columbus Salvation Army Major Alan Phillips says that in July alone they have helped over 231 families.

Kisha Williams is one of those families…

“When we first moved to Columbus, MS, we were all together, my mom and her 6 daughters all of us here and she came here and they helped her with food they even helped with getting us in housing so we were really thankful for them.” said Williams

Williams wants the community to know that a small donation can go a long way.

“Even when they do the little food drives to donate canned goods and dry products… it’s really good and helpful. Even if you only give one bag it helps to contribute even just that little bit.” said Williams.