With Easter Sunday around the corner, a Memphis-based nonprofit called Feed the Needy is gearing up to assist thousands of families facing food insecurity. As part of their efforts, they’re slated to pack and distribute more than 134,000 pounds of food, a gesture that will bring relief and celebration to numerous tables this spring holiday.

Starting before the break of dawn, at 3 a.m. on Thursday, volunteers assembled at The Bayer Building on Jackson Avenue to prepare nearly 3,400 food boxes. In a statement obtained by Action News 5, Ruth Rawlings Banks, the CEO of Feed the Needy, expressed dismay, "I’m saddened by how many families are now suffering during this hunger crisis." She personally knows the pangs of hunger, being one of 14 children, and understands the struggle many face with soaring food costs.

This large-scale charitable initiative is even more critical considering the local economic climate. According to the University of Memphis' 2023 Poverty Fact Sheet cited by Feed the Needy, Memphis has a poverty rate of just over 21%, which starkly overshadows Tennessee's 13.3%. This data was highlighted in a news release mentioned by FOX13 Memphis, emphasizing the significance of the organization's work.

The charity’s impact isn’t limited to Easter. They have their sights set on addressing hunger throughout the year. According to WREG, Feed the Needy is projected to feed more than 48,500 people with its Thanksgiving and Easter food drives combined. Their ongoing efforts have supported no less than 26 local food pantries with hundreds of necessary items.