written by: Mayla Ashford
With more than 4,500 Mississippi children reportedly losing access to their SNAP benefits, the need to support families facing food insecurity continues to grow. The Winston County Self Help Cooperative (WCSHC) remains committed to its mission of “Helping Save Rural America” by providing families with fresh, locally grown vegetables and helping those in need.
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., WCSHC harvested its first crop of collard greens. Members Mayla Ashford, Emma Goss, Arlexis Yarbrough, Cordale “Smoke” Ellis, and Rev. Alonzo Miller, along with non-members Aunt Mae and Malean Haynes, rolled up their sleeves, put their hands in the dirt, and got the work done. Their hard work and dedication resulted in a successful harvest that would help put fresh vegetables on the tables of local families.
Following the harvest, the group set up a table outdoors and began bagging the freshly picked collard greens, yielding a total of 60 bags. During the bagging process, we all stopped to show reverence to the harvest; Rev. Alonzo Miller offered a heartfelt prayer, blessing the harvest and praying for the families who would receive the vegetables. He also prayed for the continued growth and abundance of future harvests so that WCSHC could continue providing fresh produce to families throughout the county and surrounding counties.
The spirit of caring and sharing continued as Warner Hall of Warner Hall Farm in Greensburg, Louisiana, generously contributed an additional 20 bags of collard greens, bringing the total to 80 bags.
Once the vegetables were bagged and ready for distribution, Cordale, Emma, Arlexis, and Mayla set up a table at Taylor’s Funeral Home, where they contacted individuals and invited them to receive fresh collard greens to share with their families. By the end of the distribution, 71 bags of collard greens had been placed in families’ hands, providing a fresh, nutritious addition to their dinner tables.
This event was more than just harvesting and distributing vegetables. This event demonstrated unity, compassion, teamwork, and the importance of neighbors helping neighbors. At a time when many families face financial hardship and uncertainty about food assistance, efforts like these remind us that communities can make a difference by working together.
The WCSHC continues to demonstrate its commitment to helping families become more sustainable, promoting agriculture, and ensuring that locally grown food reaches those who need it most.
WCSHC extends a special thank-you to Warner Hall Farm of Greensburg, Louisiana, for their generous contribution to this caring and sharing event. We also thank every individual who helped harvest, bag, and distribute the collard greens.
Together, we are not just growing vegetables; we are growing hope, strengthening families, and continuing our mission to “Help Save Rural America.”
