MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – Families gathered at the Meridian Housing Authority on Saturday, Oct. 17, for Together at the Table, an event organized by Amicia Sutton, Mrs. Mississippi American 2026 to address food insecurity and connect residents with practical resources.
The private event paired hot meals and take-home groceries with health education, bringing community organizations and medical professionals together to support local families. Meridian Ward 3 City Councilman Tracy Tims also attended.
Sutton, who earned a Top 15 semifinalist placement at the national Mrs. American competition in September, is using her title to bring attention to combating hunger, food affordability and limited access to nutritious foods.
For Sutton, a former Meridian television reporter, the effort grew from needs she witnessed while covering the community roughly a decade ago.
In a WTOK interview before the event, she recalled meeting residents whose limited food options meant getting by on Vienna sausages and crackers or peanut butter sandwiches. Those experiences left her asking how to connect people with available help.
The issue is also personal for Sutton, who shared that she, too, had privately struggled to afford groceries while making ends meet.
“I’m using my platform as Mrs. Mississippi American to be the launching pad to connect different partners together within our community,” Sutton said.
Together at the Table put that goal into practice by bringing food assistance and useful information into one setting. Families received meals and groceries while hearing practical guidance from health experts.
Ochsner Rush Health supported the event and provided medical expertise. Primary care physician Dr. Michael Beard spoke about diabetes and hypertension, helping residents better understand these conditions and the importance of managing their health.
Nurse practitioner Dorris Bradley led a demonstration on sugar and salt in everyday diets, offering a practical look at how food choices affect health.
The education focused on making manageable changes while preserving familiar foods and traditions.
“Just because we cut back doesn’t mean that we have to completely wipe away our culture and how we eat, but we can make modifications,” Sutton said.
The program also was designed to address stretching groceries through meal planning, budgeting and connecting residents with preventive care.
Meridian Housing Authority helped identify and invite residents who could benefit from additional support. Sutton described an outreach effort that considered neighbors facing a range of circumstances, including veterans, people with disabilities and families needing assistance.
United Way of East Mississippi supported the effort with volunteers. Abundant Life Church, led by Pastor John Baker, contributed items for food bags, while Hope Village for Children also donated food items.
Sutton said the partnerships reflected a shared commitment to using existing community resources to meet local needs.
Although the gathering took place ahead of Thanksgiving, she emphasized that addressing hunger requires attention throughout the year.
“This work needs to continue,” Sutton said. “We need to be doing it all year long.”
She also hopes the event encourages others to take action, whether through a church, nonprofit or a connection with a neighbor.
“You don’t need a platform,” Sutton said. “You can literally be whomever you are in your community and say, ‘I want to make change in my community. I care about if my neighbor goes hungry.’
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