The Pearl River Valley Opportunity (PRVO) held a community meeting to inform residents about the services and programs available in 2025. The event featured presentations from various organizations focused on providing resources to low-income and senior citizens.

Steve Reid, Business Development Coordinator for Forrest Health, spoke at the meeting, discussing key topics, including IRS-related services. Senior tax consultants from the IRS were present to assist with tax return preparation for low-income and senior citizens and provide information on how to avoid IRS tax scams that target these communities.

Representatives from the South Mississippi Rural Initiative made additional presentations, providing details about community health centers offering primary healthcare. Early Head Start and Head Start programs and upcoming food drives organized by Feeding the Gulf Coast were also discussed.

Lillie Crawford, Picayune’s case manager, and April Kersh Poplarville’s case manager provided an overview of PRVO’s services. These include Community Service Block Grants, affordable housing programs, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists residents with energy costs.

Representatives from the Employment Office and the Mississippi State Extension Center also attended, offering information on employment resources and educational programs. The meeting was an informational session for residents to learn about available services and opportunities in the upcoming year.