MEMPHIS, Tennessee —
In Thursday's Ransom Note: if your refrigerator is full and your rent or mortgage are paid up, be thankful.
I bring this up because a new study shows two of the top ten states hurting the most financially due to COVID-19 are in the Mid-South. Mississippi is only behind Louisiana, Michigan, and Ohio at number four. Then there's Florida, New York, and Illinois before Tennessee, with California and Texas tied.
Smartasset.com says Mississippi had the highest percentage of people in poverty before the pandemic. Now, new census bureau data shows last month 46% of all adults -- nearly half -- either didn't pay their rent or mortgage last month or have no confidence of paying next month.
18% also said that in the past week they either sometimes or often didn't have enough to eat.
Tennessee has the 14th largest jump in unemployment since the pandemic. 25% are housing insecure, and 11% are food insufficient.
Not only should we appreciate what we have but do something to help those who are struggling.