United Way collects items for local food banks

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - United Way of Southeast Mississippi held its CANpaign Kickoff Thursday at the Corner Markets in Petal, Midtown Hattiesburg, and Oak Grove.

This was in effort to collect canned food items that will benefit Christian Services, Edwards Street Fellowship, Hub City Humane Society, and Southern Pines Animal Shelter.

United Way Board Chair, Shawn Harris said, "Right now, we're in early fall. And this is a time where a lot of these food banks and pet agencies are running low on the necessary items they have. So most of the time, people are thinking about these groups in the November, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas time when they think about them. So, it's really important to re-stock the shelves at our community partners: Edwards Street and Christian Services, and get some more items into the pet shelters as well."

Harris said this is the third year they have been doing this, and they have collected over 4,000lbs of food each year.