Free Jackson, Mississippi
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[edit] General Guide
Please provide a general outline of the city and its neighborhoods/boroughs/parts of town, including information about political leanings, police forces, population, income levels, social services, etc.
JXN is the capitol and largest city in MS. It's a small city but has a surprisingly happening music and art scene. MS is a very conservative state but very cheap and the weather's warm. The city is served by several interstate highways and US highways, including the famous Natchez Trace. I-55 is north-south from Chicago to New Orleans and passes through JXN. I-20 runs east-west from TX to SC and also passes through JXN. Hwy 49 runs north-south from the AR state line to the MS Gulf Coast. Oddly enough, the city is built atop an extinct volcano.
JXN's historic Fondren District is the center of its arts and music scene. Bookstores, theaters, antique stores, a yoga studio, and an organic food store are all to be found in this area. Fondren is walkable, and a trolley (75 cents a ride) covers most of the area. http://www.fondren.org/
[edit] Housing
Catholic Charities runs a Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter for kids aged 12-17 and a shelter for pregnant women trying to kick their addictions. Call 601-355-0161 (youth shelter) or 601-371-7483 (pregnant women's shelter) or go to http://www.catholiccharitiesjackson.org/
Matt's House, 343 Adelle St. near Millsaps College, provides temporary shelter for women and children as well as two meals a day. http://www.stewpot.org/services_mattshouse.html or call 601-353-2759.
Sims House is a transitional shelter providing up to 90 day stays for women and children. Services include classes, counseling, job placement assistance, and day care. Call 601-353-2759 or email mthompson@stewpot.org.
The Billy Brumfield House, 1244 South Gallatin St., provides shelter for men, and also has a homeless program, a drug-work transitional program, and a special needs program. Call 601-353-2759 or 601-948-2864.
[edit] Food
Free/low-cost markets, produce, butchers, day-old bakeries, Food banks, missions, church meals, etc.
Stewpot serves a meal at noon to all-comers, no questions asked. http://www.stewpot.org/ or call (601) 353-2759.
The Food Pantry can provide a 4-day supply of food for screened applicants. Open Monday-Friday from 9-11 am. Call 601-353-2759.
Food Not Bombs, 721 N. State St. Apt 2B, JXN or email sarabradshaw@hellokitty.com
Operation Shoestring, 1711 Bailey Ave, has a food pantry, as well as programs for kids and parents. http://www.operationshoestring.org/
[edit] Medical Care
Planned parenthood, free clinics, free medical advice, Medicare resources, low-cost clinics, etc.
Central Mississippi Health Services, Inc. 1850 Chadwick Drive Jackson, MS 39204-2841 Phone: (601) 376-1700
Hinds County Health Department at the Jackson Medical Mall, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson, Suite 411. Phone: 601-364-2666
There is only one Planned Parenthood in the state of MS, and that's in Hattiesburg, a couple of hours south of JXN. Call them at (601) 296-6001 or visit their website at http://www.ppalabama.org/
Stewpot also provides free counseling services for families or people suffering from depression or stress. Call 601-353-2759.
Baptist Health Systems provides low-cost ($25 each) heart, lung, and cancer screenings. The cancer screening includes a pap smear and breast exam (if female) and a prostate exam (if male). http://www.mbhs.org/
My Brother's Keeper, 500 E Woodrow Wilson, Building M. You can get FREE HIV testing. Walk-ins welcome. Call 601-500-7660 ext. 303 or 304.
Gace House provides counseling and hospice care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Call 601-353-1038 or see gracehousems.org
[edit] Legal Aid
ACLU, free legal aid/counseling, pro bono attorneys, etc.
ACLU of Mississippi can be contacted at 601-355-6464 or msacluoffice@msaclu.org http://www.msaclu.org/index.htm
Mississippi Center for Justice, 5 Old River Place, Suite 203, JXN. (601) 352-2269 or http://mscenterforjustice.org/
[edit] Armed Forces/Deployment Avoidance Counseling
Legal aid, resources, etc.
[edit] Play
See Free Play section, include details for this city.
Beaches, Swimming Pools, Parks, Sports, Museums, Music, Theatre, TV shows, Movies, etc.
Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 S Lamar St. Admission is $5 for adults ($3 for students). Call 601-960-1515 or http://www.msmuseumart.org/
Eudora Welty House, 1119 Pinehurst St., free admission on the 13th of each month when the 13th occurs on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. http://www.eudorawelty.org/visit.html
New Stage Theatre, 1100 Carlisle St. http://www.newstagetheatre.com/
Actor's Playhouse, 121 Paul Truitt Ln, Pearl. http://www.actorsplayhouse.net/
Mississippi Arts Center, 201 E. Pascagoula St., hosts a variety of exhibits that are free (but donations are encouraged). Call 601-960-1500
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, 565 N. 5th Ave, Laurel. lrma.org or 601-649-6374. More free exhibits.
Mississippi Crafts Center, 950 Rice Rd., Ridgeland. 601-856-7546. Several free exhibits, including Choctaw Day on September 28, featuring art and music from the Choctaw nation. Often serves small free lunches during its exhibits.
Mississippi Symphony Orchestra occasionally puts on free live performances. 601-960-1565.
Jackson Progressives Lunch is hosted by JxnPro and encourages anyone who's interested in revitalizing JXN to join them for lunch at Peaches (327 Farish St.) every Wednesday at 11:30 am. Free event.
OUToberfest is hosted Oct 9-12 at Hal & Mal's, and celebrates and supports local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. www.outoberfest.com
Family Day in the Park, September 21, 1pm at Smith Park. An art exhibition, health fair, live music, and kid's activities are provided. Call 601-291-5296.
Jacktoberfest, Oct. 17, free admission. Live music, beer, and brats. www.jacktoberfest.com
Banned Books Club will host readings from banned books on Sep 29, 7-8:30 pm, at Lemuria, 4506 Office Park Dr. Refreshments will be served.
[edit] Information
Contrary to popular belief, there are four seasons in MS: Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas. The weather is hot and humid most of the year except for a brief, rainy winter from about Nov-Feb.
MS is subtropical, and the heat and humidity can be intense during the summer months (approx. May-October). Be sure to drink water and find adequate shade. Outbreaks of West Nile occur, so you probably want to wear mosquito repellent.
If you go walking or hiking in a wooded area, you should be aware that MS has many poisonous snakes. Even in JXN it's easy to find patches of woods and swamps, so never go wandering in the backwoods without some sort of transportation or way to call for help, and never harass or attempt to capture any snake you might see. If a snake hisses or rattles its tail at you, freeze and very slowly back away. If bitten, get to a hospital immediately to recieve anitvenin. Don't try to suck out the poison or apply a torniquet, that stuff only works in movies.
[edit] Underground Papers
Jackson Free Press: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/
[edit] Miscellaneous
Any other freebies
[edit] Public Transit
The local buses, Greyhounds, and train run out of Union Station in downtown JXN. JATRAN is the local bus line, but isn't considered efficient or safe by locals. The buses stop running at 5pm. http://www.jatran.com/ To contact Greyhound, call (601)353-6342.
The Fondren Express Trolley covers most of the Fondren District Area, from St. Dominic's Hospital to Millsaps College to as far north as Duling St. Cost is 75 cents a ride. http://fondrenexpress.com/main1/
Amtrak runs a train from Chicago to New Orleans with a stop at Union Station. Call (601)355-6350.
JXN is served by an international airport with flights to Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and others. www.jmaa.com
There are some freight trains that run through the city, but you hop one at your own risk.
[edit] Free Clothing and Furniture
See Free Clothing and Furniture section, provide details for this city.
Clothing Closet, http://www.stewpot.org/services_clothingcloset.html or 601-353-2759.
Dress for Success of Metro Jackson provides clean, gently-used dress clothes for disadvantaged women who need suits to go to job interviews. Call 601-985-9888 or email jackson@dressforsuccess.org
NUTS is a thrift store that sells clothing for as little as 25-50 cents. 114 Millsaps Ave, JXN. 601-355-7458
[edit] Assorted Freebies
See Assorted Freebies Section, provide details for this city, including other topics. Whatever fits and is useful.
[edit] Survive
Go to the Survive section and provide any city-specific details, including new topics.
