Missy Elliott has stepped up for her hometown with a $50,000 donation to a local nonprofit in Portsmouth, Virginia, aimed at supporting a community food drive.
The legendary rapper and singer-songwriter made the generous donation to Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless through her mother, Patricia Elliott, during a food drive held at the Joe B. Fleming Building. The contribution, made during the Christmas holidays, came through a partnership with Third Baptist Church to provide free meals to community members.
Speaking with ABC 8 News, Patricia Elliott highlighted why giving back matters so much to their family. “Life is so short,” she said. “You can be up today, and down tomorrow. But it doesn’t mean that you stay down, ’cause we were almost there, and that’s why it’s very sensitive to us that we give and we give back to the community.”
Third Baptist Church pastor Joseph Fleming also spoke to ABC 8 News about the broader impact of the event, describing it as a way of “passing out hope.”
“Hope is coming from not only hot meals being served to the community, but we also had a bike drive today,” he said. “We have a mobile pantry that happens every month.”
Missy Elliott’s commitment to giving back in Portsmouth isn’t new. Over the years, she has donated socks and shoes to hundreds of elementary school students, helped families cover rent, and provided $60,000 worth of toys to families in need.
In other Missy Elliott news, the rapper recently expressed gratitude to her fans after reaching a major milestone.
After early reports suggested she became the first female rapper to score six consecutive platinum studio albums, Elliott took a moment to thank those who continue to support her journey.
