Miss Hospitality Contestants gives back to community in Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg, MS - Mississippi's Hospitality Contestants gave back to the community Tuesday in Hattiesburg.

The contestants participated in food packaging at the Edwards Street Fellowship Center's Food Pantry with Executive Director, Ann McCullen, this afternoon.

“Unfortunately a big part of representing Mississippi is facing the reality of the poverty that we have in our state. So this gives them a positive response to what we Mississippians do to try to help our neighbors in need.” McCullen said.

McCullen said with more than twenty percent of Mississippians in the state of food insecurity, the pageant contestants said their experience was more than humbling. “I was absolutely shocked. I honestly had no idea, that there were that many people that close to home, that were struggling like that and I mean I knew that it was bad in some aspects, but it just really breaks my heart to know that, there are so many families out here that cant just go and get food.” Miss Pearl River, Mercedes Mayfield said.

McCullen shared that she is pleased to see the pageant contestants understand what real hunger looks like in Mississippi as they go on to represent the state.

For more information on Edwards Street Fellowship Center click here.