10/08/2026
Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry Continues to Meet Growing Need
More than 1,000 families have already turned to the Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry for assistance in 2026, and the year is not over yet.
Each week, approximately 50 families come through the pantry seeking food and other essential items. From January 1 through September 21, 2026, the pantry has served 1,017 families, including 721 children and 458 senior citizens. With more than three months remaining in the year and the holidays approaching, the need for assistance continues.
These are more than numbers on a page. They represent children who need nutritious meals, seniors facing difficult choices, and families working to stretch every dollar as far as it will go.
The pantry's records show how many families have received assistance over the years. During the full calendar year of 2020, the pantry served 1,149 families. During the full calendar year of 2025, it served 1,638 families. In 2026, the pantry has served 1,017 families from January 1 through September 21. Because the 2026 figure covers only part of the year, it is not directly comparable to the full-year totals for 2020 and 2025.
The Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry is open Mondays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and Thursdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Families may visit the pantry once every 30 days.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The pantry depends on the generosity of our community. There are several easy ways to help.
Peanut butter and jelly Canned or dry beans
Canned vegetables
Canned soup
Canned fruit
Canned meat
Feminine hygiene products, particularly pads
WHERE TO DROP OFF DONATIONS
Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry
119 Eastport Street
Iuka, Mississippi
A donation box is located in front of the pantry and is checked daily, so donations can be dropped off at your convenience.
MONETARY DONATIONS
If you would rather make a monetary donation, checks can be mailed to:
The Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry
P.O. Box 944
Iuka, Mississippi 38852
Every dollar helps the pantry purchase the items families need most.
PLEASE DO NOT DONATE
When cleaning out your pantry or helping a family member clean theirs, we welcome usable donations. However, please do not place the following items in the outdoor donation box:
• Dented or damaged cans
Cans more than two years old
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh produce can attract insects and animals when left in the donation box. We are happy to accept fresh fruits and vegetables during our regular pantry hours.
ONE SMALL GIFT CAN HELP
The next time you go grocery shopping, consider adding one extra item for the pantry. One jar of peanut butter, one can of soup or one package of pads may seem small, but when neighbors give what they can, those small gifts become meals and essential supplies for families throughout our community.
You don't have to fill the pantry by yourself. Just fill one bag. Buy one extra item. Send one check. Every contribution becomes part of something bigger.
With 1,017 families already served through September 21, 2026, now is a meaningful time to help. Your generosity can help put food on a child's table, provide groceries for a senior, and give a family a little breathing room during a difficult month.
When neighbors help neighbors, a community becomes stronger. Thank you for helping the Helpful Samaritan Food Pantry continue to be there when our neighbors need us.
