This new Columbus food pantry aims to combat Muscogee’s leading cause of death
Landris Baggs, the mobile market and community outreach coordinator for The Food Mill, was taught the importance of giving back as he grew up in Columbus.
The value was instilled at a young age, he said, so it became something he took for granted.
Now, as an adult, Baggs, along with The Food Mill team, has worked since November to provide healthy food to individuals who utilize the organization’s Heart Healthy Food Pantry in the Shared Kitchen, 3270 Fifth Ave.
“Our big focus is making sure that all the ingredients and all the pantry items that we do have in here are heart healthy and good for an everyday person’s diet,” Baggs told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Poverty is a major factor leading to poor health outcomes, according to Piedmont Healthcare’s Community Health Needs Assessment, with the poverty rate between 2019 and 2023 in Muscogee County outpacing the state’s.
“We face a wide assortment of health issues,” Baggs said. “In Columbus, we have higher amounts of cardiovascular issues, heart complications and higher rates of diabetes.”
About 15% of Muscogee County residents have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the assessment, which linked to food insecurity, limited access to healthcare and healthy foods and differences in health habits.
Diabetes also increases the risk of kidney disease. In Muscogee County, about 3.6% of the population had kidney disease in 2021, which was higher than the state average, according to the CHNA.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Muscogee County, the report says, with links to obesity, high blood pressure, smoking and diets high in unhealthy fats and fried foods.
These issues are part of the reason The Food Mill not only wanted to create a food pantry for people who need help, Baggs said, but also one that provides healthy food.
“We wanted people to have the security and to be able to have the choice to pick what they want,” he said. “But we wanted those options to be healthier.”
Inside the pantry at The Food Mill’s Shared Kitchen
The food pantry offers an assortment of food and other items free of charge. The pantry’s carpeted room has several shelves, tables and freezers to store food.
Customers can find items such as peanut butter, cereal and low- or reduced-sodium canned foods. Much of the fresh produce, including onions, squash, collard greens and kale, is grown at the MercyMed Farm in Columbus.
“Our pantry is designed around a shopping experience,” Baggs said. “With most other pantries, they get a big pallet of items that get divvied out to people. Here, with ours, individuals are actually able to shop.”
As part of the interview process individuals go through before they can use the pantry, staff finds out what food items they can eat at home.
“We help point them toward items that might be more beneficial to them,” Baggs said. “Also, we like to ask what cooking utilities they have at home, as well.”
Sometimes people don’t have a stove or oven they can use, he said, so the staff helps them find meals that are microwavable.
A table in the back of the pantry has a variety of “extra items” that include personal hygiene items, such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant.
How people can help and receive help
While some organizations, like Feeding the Valley, encourage people to donate cash rather than items, The Food Mill’s pantry is “very grateful to receive both,” Baggs said.
They strongly request people donate low- or reduced-sodium canned foods, he said, because people don’t always have the resources at home to cook certain dishes.
“Some people may only rely on having a microwave and utilizing that as the main cooking appliance in their home,” Baggs aid. “So, what they have to use is canned vegetables, along with fresh things as well. But, a lot of times, canned things are more friendly.”
It is important for people who want to donate canned food to look for reduced-sodium or no-sodium items, he said. These phrases are typically labeled on the cans, Baggs said.
While they encourage people to bring canned food, the pantry also accepts other items like fresh produce, meat, milk, personal care products and other items.
Donors may call The Food Mill to let them know they want to bring in items, Baggs said, or they can drop them off at The Food Mill cafe, 3718 Second Ave.
People who want to use the food pantry may do so by calling The Food Mill at 706-330-3972 to notify them that they are seeking food assistance. The staff will help them start the next steps, including an appointment at the pantry.
“We only get basic demographic information,” Baggs said.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 2:02 PM.
