Programs

Food Pantry

Our food pantry provides emergency food to about 700 families per month. The food pantry is supported by monetary contributions and donated food items from churches, individuals, and organizations in the Hattiesburg area. For the past two years, grant awards from Jarden Consumer Solutions Community Fund have increased our capacity to provide food.

ESFC is an approved distribution agency of the Mississippi Food Network (MFN) which warehouses and distributes donated products from the USDA, Feeding America (formerly known as “America’s Second Harvest”), and wholesale food distributors. The Society of St. Andrews coordinates the gleaning of produce from fields of participating farmers across the state to provide fresh food to pantries.

The food pantry

· Provides boxes of staple food items

· Utilizes volunteers for most of the work

· Follows all the USDA guidelines for distribution of food to individuals

· Accepts donated food from individuals and organizations

Scout Troops

Currently ESFC provides resources and coordinates the activities for weekly meetings of three Scoutreach groups. As scouts the boys: • Learn by doing and working together. • Develop leadership skills. • Acquire life skills as they work to earn badges and experience camping.

Adult Programs

There is an overwhelming need for services to adults which ESFC has just begun to address. Families are dealing with limited resources, rising cost of living expenses, and isolation. Our vision is to implement an Adult Education Program to address these social issues. The programs currently in place are: • Monthly senior women’s “day out” which provides a noon luncheon, devotional, and short program. • Weekly Bible Study and noon luncheon. • Monday morning exercise class for seniors

Summer Program for Children

Our summer programs for children offer a variety of enrichment and spiritual growth experiences. Summer activities include: • Swimming lessons at the Family YMCA. • Vacation Bible School • Field trips and enrichment activities. • Summer Reading Program

Girls' Program

Provides a supportive group setting for girls to form friendships and develop life skills. The program enables the girls to: • Receive information, support, and encouragement in dealing with the challenges of the pre-teen years. • Learn to set goals, work together, and reach out to others. • Express love of God and others through life choices