Hernando Rotary Club

We were honored to welcome Roxanne McIngvale with the Hernando/Nesbit Interfaith Council on Poverty as the guest of Sean Blankenship at our recent Rotary meeting.

The Interfaith Council on Poverty is a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Hernando and Nesbit communities, partnering with 15 local churches to support families in need. Through their food pantry, Dress-a-Child program, and holiday assistance initiatives, they provide essential resources like food, clothing, and school supplies to low-income residents.

Located on McIngvale Road, the organization continues to make a meaningful impact by serving those right here in our community. Eligibility is based on residency in Hernando/Nesbit and a simple screening process.

We are grateful for the work Roxanne, and the Interfaith Council do each day to uplift and care for others. 💙

The Hernando Rotary Club recently welcomed Sophie Hathaway of Delta Directions, guest of Will Brown, for an informative and impactful presentation.

Sophie shared insights into the Delta Directions Healthy Hub Initiative, a collaborative effort designed to strengthen food pantries by expanding access to health-related foods and services. The initiative includes a four-month educational series focused on food policy, client choice, and wellness, developed in response to local pantries’ requests for more resources and guidance.

The program also works to increase the role of food providers in connecting clients with health resources and supporting individuals managing chronic conditions.

A Harvard Law School Mississippi Delta Legal Fellow based at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, Sophie brings a strong background in public and global health. Originally from a rural farming community in Massachusetts, she is passionate about improving health outcomes in the Delta region.

She also highlighted the work of the Delta Directions Consortium, a network of nonprofit, philanthropic, and academic partners focused on health and economic advancement in the Mississippi and Arkansas Delta.

Thank you, Sophie, for sharing your meaningful work and dedication to building healthier communities!

The Hernando Rotary Club recently welcomed an engaging and informative presentation from Bailey Cary, DeSoto County Law Librarian and proud Hernando native.

Bailey shared her educational journey through Millsaps College, University of North Texas, and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, along with her passion for criminal law. She also highlighted her strong Rotary roots, inspired by her grandmother, Barbara Jepson, a longtime Rotarian.

Members learned about the remarkable growth of the DeSoto County Law Library—from its early days as a small closet-sized room on Panola Street to today’s expanded, well-equipped research center. Bailey recognized the foundational work of Bill Ballard, who emphasized that legal research “is not complicated… but it’s not simple,” and acknowledged the generous contribution of Bill and Mary Lee Brown and her family in loaning their law book collection for public use.

Today, the library maintains strong state and federal resources and supports patrons—primarily those pursuing civil matters—with materials tailored to Mississippi law and local court requirements.

Thank you, Bailey, for an insightful presentation and for your dedication to expanding access to legal resources in our community!