The holiday season, for some, can be the loneliest time of the year, however, it is also a time where people tend to give back the most.

Peggy Simpson-Mosley and her Lady Pearl Bradley chapter of the Order of Eastern Star in Vicksburg collected can goods and other nonperishable items from Oct. 23 through the end of November to distribute to needy individuals in the city at the Jackson Street Community Center.

She decided against handing out turkeys since it’s a common thing to do.

“So I said, ‘on the first of December we’ll give out food bags. Whoever wants them or needs them can come in and get them,’” Simpson-Mosley said.

Bags included grits, rice, canned corn and carrots, sweet peas, green peas, chili, boxed spaghetti and ramen noodles.

Multiple generous hands in the community made donations and contributions to Simpson-Mosley’s cause. Vicksburg Warren School District board member Alonzo Stevens donated canned goods, Corner Market and Country Market contributed food and brown paper bags to store the food. Walter Sheriff also donated bottled water to serve with the goods.

For Simpson-Mosley, everyday she is able to give is important to her. She doesn’t do it for show or to be noticed but for her own happiness and satisfaction.

“My motto is ‘Lord if I can do something for somebody,’” Simpson-Mosley said. “The holidays for some people can be the loneliest and the saddest. People want to be with their family and friends. Sometimes you find people are really by themselves and they don’t have anybody.”

Seeing residents come in and take a bag of nonperishable food from the community center just makes her heart sing.

While the rain might have deterred people from coming out to the community center and things might not have gone as planned, Simpson-Mosley won’t stop it from finishing her goal of delivering more than 20 bags throughout Vicksburg.

“I’m happy for what we got together. I really, hopefully and prayerfully, that people will come in here and take the food. They’re put together with a lot of love and respect for the people in my community I’m very appreciative of that,” Simpson-Mosley said. “That’s all this is about is to bring joy to someone else.”

Simpson-Mosley also has a list of people who are “shut in” and has plans to distribute to them as well.

“We’re going to do things for them, too. However it goes, this food is going to someone who needs and wants it.”

For more information on the status of bags remaining, contact the Jackson Street Community Center, 923 Walnut St., at 601-631-3723.