Hattiesburg is one of nearly 50 cities in Mississippi participating in the Extra Table Feeds initiative, which aims to collect food donations for local pantries. The city has been assigned 16-ounce jars of peanut butter, with donation bins available at various locations until Feb. 21.
Donation sites include Trinity Episcopal Church, Alpha Chi Omega, Crescent City Grill, City Hall, Water Billing Office, Fire Stations Six and Eight, Fire and Police Training Academy, Hancock Whitney, The Family YMCA, Blu Jazz Café, and William Carey University at campus security booths, as well as Merit Health Wesley.
“We're excited for this year's edition of March of the Mayors,” Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker posted on Facebook. “Once again, Hattiesburg will be collecting 16-oz containers of peanut butter for Extra Table, which will help supply food pantries across our region.”
A packing event is scheduled for Feb. 27 at Venture Church – Hunt Club Campus in Hattiesburg, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will assemble food boxes filled with shelf-stable items, which will be distributed to local food pantries.
According to Extra Table Feeds, “this is where the Mardi Gras magic really happens! Help us build food boxes loaded with shelf-stable food items from our amazing cities. These food boxes then go directly to feed the hungry in your community! The food comes in from each participating city and parades out to our partner food parties to be distributed to their clients.”