MADISON EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

Established in 1982, MESA has served the community for 40 years by providing reliable safety-net services to countless numbers of neighbors and friends.

For 2022, MESA’s food pantry provided free food to over 500 people each month. Nine percent (9%) of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Madison County live below the poverty line - and a larger percentage are "working poor."

MESA fights food insecurity through its Food Program, working collaboratively in partnership with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB), local grocery stores, area churches, farmers, and the general community at large. In 2022, our grocery store partners donated 308,656 pounds of food. In addition, weekly food donations from churches, individuals, local groups, and several food drives resulted in the pantry receiving an additional 81,956 pounds of food items.

The pantry also provides personal hygiene items for infants, toddlers, and adults. An annual hygiene drive by several of our partners provided over 1,500 pounds of products to MESA’s pantry. Other food and hygiene drives were conducted during the year by community members, the U.S. Post Office, local schools and businesses, and other community groups. Bag lunches were offered to school-aged children who normally received free breakfast and lunch at school.

In 2022, MESA’s Food Program served 6,315 individuals and 2,453 households.