In response to the unprecedented tornado activity that struck Mississippi and surrounding states in early spring of this year, BBF provided a grant to the Mississippi Food Network (MFN) to strengthen emergency food response efforts across its 56-county service area.

Based in Jackson, MFN operates with more than 430 partner agencies, many of which serve as local disaster hubs. Following several severe tornado outbreaks across the state, BBF’s grant is helping replenish MFN’s inventory of disaster food boxes and bottled water. These critical supplies are used for immediate distribution to individuals and families affected by the storms and to support partner agencies mobilizing recovery operations across the region.

MFN’s recently updated Disaster Response & Recovery Plan, approved by Feeding America, designates nine regional hubs equipped for coordinated disaster response. With the necessary staff and infrastructure in place, the food bank plays a central role in ensuring food access during crises. BBF’s support allows MFN to continue responding quickly and effectively to ongoing needs in Mississippi, which has experienced more tornadoes in the first quarter of 2025 than any other state in the U.S.

Photos courtesy of Mississippi Food Network