The annual "March of the Mayors" food drive successfully provided thousands of meals to food pantries across Mississippi this year, collecting more than 85,120 pounds of non-perishable food items.
From January 21 to February 21, mayors from 55 cities across the state participated in the canned-food drive, each city focusing on specific items like peanut butter, canned tuna, and vegetables. The collected food was packed into 8,512 boxes at five regional packing events across the state, including The Delta, Northeast Mississippi, Jackson Metro Area, The Pine Belt, and The Gulf Coast.
Under the leadership of Extra Table, volunteers and regional sponsors hosted what they called “Mississippi’s Largest Food Box Packing Parties.” Each 10-pound box contributed to a total of 71,008 meals distributed to 55 local food pantries.
“I think the mayor's march is a good fundraiser to help people all across Mississippi,” said local resident Kyron Barnes. “There are a lot of people that are struggling…especially with the economy and prices rising across America. So doing an event like collecting food donations for the food pantry to help people in the state who are struggling is a thoughtful thing to do.”
This year's effort aimed to support Mississippi's communities, which continue to experience high levels of poverty.
Local resident Frida Lopez echoed this sentiment.
“It’s a great idea considering how expensive things have gotten and how much poverty is experienced in Mississippi,” she said.
Southern Miss student Afique Rafhid emphasized the impact of community support.
“Raising over 71,000 meals shows how communities can come together to support those in need,” he said. “In the long run, this kind of generosity makes the community stronger and reminds people that they’re not alone during tough times.”
The March of the Mayors, now in its second year, continues to grow as an important effort to combat hunger across the state.
For more information on the March of the Mayors, visit the Extra Table website.