LUMBERTON — In a city where nearly 4 in 10 residents live in poverty, Lumberton will open its first food pantry in early 2026. The project is still in its early stages, and organizers are exploring possible sites. 

The pantry will be run by Roof Above Resilience, a nonprofit founded in 2024, and is expected to serve at least 100 families each month. Executive Director Estina Holder said it will be the only pantry in the city where residents now rely on small church drives or neighboring communities for food. 

Hunger across Mississippi 

Mississippi has one of the nation’s highest food insecurity rates, with 19% of residents lacking reliable access, according to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks.  

Locally, nearly 38% of Lumberton’s 1,600 residents live in poverty, according to World Population Review. With no public transportation, residents said many go without when food isn’t available nearby. 

Longtime resident Melody Langley, who relies on church giveaways, said a local pantry would fill a big need. 

“There’s no city bus,” Langley said. “So, if (someone is) hungry, they’re just hungry unless someone takes pity on them or one of the churches (hosts a drive) locally where they can walk.” 

Two churches — Bass Memorial Seventh day Adventist and Great Commission — each hold one-hour monthly distributions. The next closest option is a nearly 20-minute drive away at Jacob’s Well Ministries in Poplarville. 

Community needs 

Pat Lee, a 15-year volunteer at Bass Memorial, said having an established pantry will help reach families who may not know about church programs. 

“It definitely will help expand distribution of goods to those in need,” Lee said. “We’ll be glad to have their help, and we will know that even more are getting the nutrition that they need.” 

Holder’s daughter, Tanasha, a teacher in the Lamar County School District, said the need is also clear among Lumberton’s children. 

“Many of my students qualify for free lunch,” she said. “A lot of families (live paycheck to paycheck), so having a food pantry would give them access to food when something happens.” 

Holder, who has worked with homeless individuals and people struggling with mental health, said the idea for Roof Above Resilience and the food pantry grew from what she sees daily in her hometown. 

“I am from Lumberton, and there is a homeless population here, a lot of seniors who need food, and low-income families,” she said.

Launching the initiative 

To launch the pantry, Roof Above Resilience started a fundraising campaign called “Nourish Our Neighbors,” with a goal of $10,000 for food, storage equipment and other essentials. The group is also using proceeds from a Krispy Kreme fundraiser. 

Holder hopes to begin by opening the pantry twice a month, with applications available on opening day. 

“Hopefully we can do it twice a month as a start and then, when we see the need to increase, we can look at more ways to open it up,” she said. 

After six months of operation, the pantry will qualify to apply to the Mississippi Food Network, which would expand its resources. Holder said that step is key to making the pantry a lasting fixture in the city. 

“This is something I want to bring to Lumberton, so it’ll be like a staple in the community,” Holder said. 

Eventually, Holder said she wants to grow beyond food distribution. 

“My dream is to expand once we get the pantry up and running. We are going to expand it with the youth and also a mental health side,” she said. “My heart is to serve, so we want to give back to the kids and have the services for people who need mental health services.”