The Box Project

Growing up, The Box Project was a constant presence in my life, thanks to my mother's unwavering commitment. She joined the organization in 1969 and became its Executive Director from 1978 to 1991. Witnessing her dedication to fighting generational poverty in the Mississippi Delta deeply shaped my understanding of social justice. From a young age, I recognized the injustice woven into the fabric of people’s lives. However, The Box Project isn’t just about witnessing struggles. It is about offering a beacon of hope. The organization provides essential support – connection, encouragement, education to navigate the system, and material aid like clothing, housewares, and school supplies. Dinner table conversations  growing up weren't only about family events and obligations. It was a safe place to learn about the systemic challenges faced by communities struggling with poverty. We discussed the limitations of existing programs like AFDC and Food Stamps, racial discrimination, and the importance of addressing the root causes . My mother's tenacity to combat the limitations of rural isolation and her sharing of the experiences of Field Consultant Odell Durham gave me a firsthand glimpse into the hardships faced by families in the Mississippi Delta. The writings my mother left behind after she passed 3 years ago this past week, illuminated for me why I am who I am and the beliefs I carry. Today, I share with you The Box Project's enduring mission. The road ahead is long, and the challenges significant. Would you like to help?  You can start with sponsoring a Back to School Box, or donate to the Back to School Fund, or go “all in” by becoming a Sponsor Family.  The Box Project is a place to start. Every family they touch represents a step closer to breaking the cycle of poverty. Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi

It’s a #BoxProject Christmas! 🎄 During our winter holiday program, families on the waitlist either get paired with sponsor families for the winter holiday OR we use winter holiday shopping donations to shop for our remaining families!🎁 Pictured is an example of how we used donations for volunteers to shop for a family on the waitlist for a full time sponsor. Box Project families can be anywhere from a single household to a household of 5 or 6!🎄 Thank you for making this holiday season a little bit brighter for families in poverty in the Mississippi Delta✨ #holidayspirit #nonprofit #holidaygiving #sponsorprogram #familyprogram #mississippidelta #donations #gifts #volunteer Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi

Today is #GivingTuesday !! Support families in rural poverty this Holiday by donating to OR volunteering with The Box Project! ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eAd4awmu #ruralpoverty #TogetherWeCan #Mississippi #communitysupport

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi made it in Delta Magazine's November/December 2024 issue! We are grateful for the opportunity to serve as the fiscal agent for the Jerry Lee Lewis Scholarship and Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute Statue that was unveiled in Silo Square! Thank you to our community partners, staff, and continuous supporters who made this initiative possible! We are honored to be a part of something so special. And thank you to our friends at Delta Magazine for featuring us in their wonderful publication. Go subscribe and read the latest issue! #Delta #Mississippi #JerryLeeLewis #Scholarship #Tribute #StatueUnveiling #communityfoundation #fundmanagement #fiscalagent #fundraising #causesthatmatter #peoplewhocare Tom Pittman Keith Fulcher Ameliea Dulaney

Today, I came across an article by Megan McArdle (The Washington Post) in the Greenwood Commonwealth and found it to be very insightful when talking about generational poverty and how to solve it in modern day USA. At the beginning of the article, McArdle writes about government checks and how, although helpful, they do not address the root causes of poverty. At The Box Project (Fighting Rural Poverty Since 1962), we work to enhance solutions as issues of poverty and community needs shift, but one thing has always been true about our organization: we do not merely provide money to help the poor; we invest in relationships between those in need and those who want to help. Our family sponsors provide advice and friendship in addition to material aid, opening up recipients to a world of possibilities and realities they never imagined. We connect people and instill confidence to help solve the issues of rural poverty rather than providing "a hand out." As McArdle says, "if we're serious about tackling intergenerational poverty, we need to be willing to contribute not just our funds, but ourselves." We could not agree more! Go give it a read! #ruralpoverty #poverty #fightingpoverty #povertyUSA #governmentfunding #governmentchecks #generationalpoverty #mississippidelta #povertyinmississippi #washingtonpost #insightfulread #research

If you haven't read our newsletter yet, now is the time to get caught up on all things Box Project! We have had a wonderful last few months, and we want you to know all about our successes! https://conta.cc/4cTaJEU

It's that time of year again when children are writing wish lists, companies are spamming your accounts with holiday promotions, and parents are thinking about a budget for the Winter Holiday! This year, we encourage you to remember the families living in poverty who face the additional stress of meeting basic everyday needs during the holiday season. Join our mission and sponsor a family for the holidays by visiting boxproject.org ❤️ #spiritofgiving #internationalcharityday #winterholidaysponsor #adoptafamily #sponsorachild #ruralpoverty #familiesinneed #nonprofit Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi

The Box Project📦 had its annual ✏️back-to-school📓 sponsor program and it was a complete success thanks to all of the people who donated and sponsored families this year! Six families went back-to-school shopping 🛒 or received a back-to-school box with the necessary items to successfully start the 2024-2025 school year! ❤ Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi #causesthatmatter #createabettertomorrow #supportlocal #support #community #togetherwecan #backtoschool #nonprofit #education #familiesinneed #backtoschoolfund #backtoschoolshopping #ruralpoverty #fightingruralpoverty #equity #EducationForAll #sponsor #donate

Summer is in full swing but BACK TO SCHOOL 📚 isn’t as far off as you think! The Box Project hosts an annual back-to-school fundraiser for our recipient families who need extra assistance with back-to-school purchases. You can choose to DONATE or you can sponsor a family and shop based on the provided supply list. We are accepting donations and sponsor sign ups for the 2024-2025 back-to-school season now! ⭐️📚✂️✏️🚌 Contact 💌 Director@boxproject.org or visit us at www.boxproject.org to get involved! 🔗 • • #backtoschool #backtoschoolshopping #backtoschoolsupplies #backtoschoolfundraiser #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #mississippi #ruralpoverty #tbp1962 #poverty #ms #students #helpastudent #sponsor #donate #signup #support #Mississippi #scholarships

Growing up, The Box Project was a constant presence in my life, thanks to my mother's unwavering commitment. She joined the organization in 1969 and became its Executive Director from 1978 to 1991. Witnessing her dedication to fighting generational poverty in the Mississippi Delta deeply shaped my understanding of social justice. From a young age, I recognized the injustice woven into the fabric of people’s lives. However, The Box Project isn’t just about witnessing struggles. It is about offering a beacon of hope. The organization provides essential support – connection, encouragement, education to navigate the system, and material aid like clothing, housewares, and school supplies. Dinner table conversations  growing up weren't only about family events and obligations. It was a safe place to learn about the systemic challenges faced by communities struggling with poverty. We discussed the limitations of existing programs like AFDC and Food Stamps, racial discrimination, and the importance of addressing the root causes . My mother's tenacity to combat the limitations of rural isolation and her sharing of the experiences of Field Consultant Odell Durham gave me a firsthand glimpse into the hardships faced by families in the Mississippi Delta. The writings my mother left behind after she passed 3 years ago this past week, illuminated for me why I am who I am and the beliefs I carry. Today, I share with you The Box Project's enduring mission. The road ahead is long, and the challenges significant. Would you like to help?  You can start with sponsoring a Back to School Box, or donate to the Back to School Fund, or go “all in” by becoming a Sponsor Family.  The Box Project is a place to start. Every family they touch represents a step closer to breaking the cycle of poverty. Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi