Organization gives food to those in need

Published 8:09 pm Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Angela Nicholson had fallen on hard times.

Last week her apartment burned, but thanks to the generosity of others she secured another place to live. And when it came to feeding her family, she was also the recipient of a bag of food given out by the Lady Pearl Bradley #48 Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.

“God is so good,” Nicholson said of the kindness shown to her.

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Peggy Simpson-Mosley, who is a member of the Lady Pearl Bradley #48 Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and founder of the food give-away geared at helping those like Nicholson, said she wanted to start a program like this so she could give back to others.

“I just wanted to give something back to the community,” Simpson-Mosley said Tuesday during the distribution.

“This was the way I was raised to always give back. I am the mother of five and there were times people have helped me, so my enjoyment comes from just giving back and anytime I can do that I do,” Mosley said.

Yearly event

Simpson-Mosley, who grew up in Vicksburg, but lived in New York most of her life, said, this is the fourth year the bags of food have been given to those living in the Vicksburg community.

Earlier in the month, flyers were sent out to churches, barber and beauty shops and she said she also posted information in the Vicksburg Post and on Facebook for anyone who would like to donate non-perishable food items to fill the bags.

“This year we were able to fill 47 bags,” Simpson-Mosley said, adding, “The first year the bags were a little short, but this year they are filled to the top.”

Simpson-Mosley said she asks no questions when people come in to get a bag of food.

“I just hope whoever takes a bag of food really needs it,” she said.

Simpson-Mosley recalled one year when a family of six came in to pick up a bag of food.

“The mother only picked up one bag of food, so I pulled her aside and told her to take a second bag.”

Bags this year included green beans, corn, soup, noodles, cornbread mix, and some bags even had a few sweet potatoes, Simpson-Mosley said.

Next year, Simpson-Mosley said, she would love to see the program expand even more.

“I hope I can give out two bags in the future,” she said.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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