Enhancing food access in Mississippi: How Stewpot and Mississippi Food Network are driving community solutions
What if accessing your next nutritious meal was uncertain? For nearly one in six Mississippians, this is a daily reality. According to the Mississippi Food Network (MFN), approximately 480,600 residents—more than 18% of them children—face limited access to nutritious food. In Jackson, the challenge is even greater, as disparities in access to fresh, healthy food continue to shape community health outcomes.
Reliable access to nutritious food is essential for well-being, economic stability, and overall quality of life, yet many families encounter barriers to obtaining fresh, healthy meals.
March is National Nutrition Month, a time to highlight the importance of balanced nutrition and recognize the organizations working year-round to expand food access. In Mississippi, Stewpot Community Services and the Mississippi Food Network are making a lasting impact, not just by providing meals but by developing long-term solutions that promote healthier communities.
At the heart of these efforts is collaboration between research and community action. Jill Buckley, Executive Director of Stewpot, and Cassandra Mobley, Chief Operating Officer at Mississippi Food Network, serve on the Forge AHEAD Community Advisory Board (CAB), working to connect academic research with real-world needs. Their involvement ensures that communities facing food access challenges are represented in health research and policy discussions, advancing initiatives that improve nutrition and support community health across the South.
Stewpot: More Than a Meal
At Stewpot Community Services, the mission goes beyond providing meals to creating a sense of dignity and stability for those in need. Located in downtown Jackson, Stewpot serves hundreds of meals daily while also offering shelter, clothing, and other essential services.
“For us, food is the entry point,” says Buckley. “It’s how we build relationships and trust with the people we serve. But we also want to connect them to additional resources—whether it’s medical care, housing assistance, or job training.”
Stewpot recognizes that nutrition plays a key role in addressing food access challenges. “When we think about food insecurity, it’s not just about access—it’s about access to the right foods,” Buckley explains. “It’s about making sure that people aren’t just eating but eating well.”
Stewpot partners with local organizations to increase access to fresh produce and balanced meals, reducing reliance on processed foods. However, Buckley acknowledges that there are still significant barriers: “Fresh food is harder to store, harder to transport, and harder to get out in large quantities. But we’re committed to making it happen because it makes a real difference.”
“When we think about food insecurity, it’s not just about access—it’s about access to the right foods.”
– Jill Buckley
Mississippi Food Network: Tackling Hunger on a Larger Scale
While Stewpot serves meals directly to those in need, the Mississippi Food Network operates at a larger scale, distributing food to more than 430 partner agencies across the state. Their work ensures that local food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens—including Stewpot—have the resources they need to serve their communities.
“Mississippi ranks among the states with the most significant food access challenges,” says Mobley. “Our mission is to change lives by fighting hunger today and feeding hope for a healthier tomorrow.”
One of MFN’s key strategies is providing nutritious options to partner agencies. “We don’t just want to get food out—we want to get healthy food out,” Mobley explains. “That means working with farmers, securing fresh produce, and making sure people have the knowledge and resources to make healthy choices.”
MFN also focuses on education. “A lot of people want to eat healthier, but they may not know how to prepare fresh foods or stretch their grocery budgets to include more nutritious options,” Mobley says. “That’s why we invest in nutrition education programs—because addressing hunger isn’t just about food, it’s about knowledge.”
How Forge AHEAD Supports Research-Driven Food Access Solutions
Both Buckley and Mobley emphasize that food access is closely linked to overall health and well-being. Poor nutrition is linked to higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, particularly in Mississippi’s communities with limited food access. That’s why their involvement with Forge AHEAD’s CAB is so important.
“We don’t just want to get food out—we want to get healthy food out.”
– Cassandra Mobley
Through Forge AHEAD, researchers are learning from community leaders like Buckley and Mobley about what truly works. Recent studies have shown that integrating fresh produce into food pantries can improve health outcomes, leading to more funding for nutrition-focused programs across Mississippi.
“It excites me that researchers are interested in hearing voices from the community as they are looking at their research projects,” says Mobley. “The CAB gives us a way to connect what researchers are doing with what our communities need.”
Through Forge AHEAD, both Buckley and Mobley contribute to research projects focused on food access, health outcomes, and community-based solutions. This collaboration helps ensure that research is actionable and addresses real-world needs.
“Research should never just sit in an academic journal,” says Buckley. “It should be something that people can use to make better choices for themselves and their families.”
How You Can Help During National Nutrition Month
For those looking to make a difference this National Nutrition Month, both organizations offer ways to get involved:
✅ Volunteer – Whether serving meals at Stewpot or packing food boxes with MFN, community support is crucial.
✅ Donate – Both organizations rely on donations to keep their programs running.
✅ Advocate – Support policies and programs that improve food access in your community.
✅ Educate – Learn about the importance of nutrition in addressing food access and share that knowledge with others.
“Hunger isn’t just about not having enough food—it’s about not having the right food,” Mobley reminds us. “And if we’re serious about tackling food insecurity, we have to address both.”
Get Involved
Visit Mississippi Food Network and Stewpot Community Services to learn more about their programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help fight food insecurity in Mississippi.
A Path Forward
Mississippi’s food access challenges won’t be solved overnight, but thanks to the work of organizations like Stewpot and MFN, progress is being made.
By combining on-the-ground action, community engagement, and research, these organizations are feeding people today and working toward a healthier, more food-secure future for Mississippi’s communities.
You can make a difference by volunteering, donating, or supporting local programs that increase access to nutritious food. Expanding food access helps strengthen community health and well-being.
