This Friday, Community Connection, an employee-based volunteer organization run by Mississippi Power, will host the first “Power to Fight Hunger” charity golf tournament at Timberton Golf Club in Hattiesburg. Money raised by the golf tournament will benefit Extra Table.

Extra Table is a nonprofit founded by Robert St. John, a well known restaurant owner in Hattiesburg. The organization helps to provide fresh and healthy food to food pantries across Mississippi.

According to a study done by Feeding America, 28.3 percent of Mississippi children are being fed breakfast and lunch at school and then going to bed hungry every night. Also, 56 percent of Mississippians 65 years old and older are not getting the food they need.

Extra Table’s mission is to provide healthy nutrient-dense food across the country. They seek to do this by working with Sysco to raise money and have food delivered directly to soup kitchens and food pantries across Mississippi. The organization has grown exponentially since its founding in 2009 and looks to expand outside Mississippi to bordering states and beyond.

“The tournament is organized and hosted by Community Connection, which is a employee-run nonprofit for Mississippi Power,” said Michael Dixon, executive director of Extra Table. “They are hosting the tournament and allowing Extra Table to receive the benefits.”

The “Power to Fight Hunger” charity golf tournament not only will raise money to bring food to food pantries and soup kitchens, but the proceeds will also specifically benefit areas of need in the Pine Belt.

“One hundred percent of the proceeds will be used to purchase healthy food in bulk for soup kitchen and food pantries across the Pine Belt,” Dixon said.

The tournament will be four-person scramble format. The event will also feature a longest drive, longest putt and hole-in-one contest.

The event is being sponsored by businesses from across the Pine Belt and food will be provided by local restaurants such as Glory Bound Gyro Co. and Vicki’s on Walnut in downtown Hattiesburg will provide refreshments. Food from Extra Table founder and chef Robert St. John’s restaurants Crescent City Grill and Tabella will also be featured at the event.

The event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Friday. For more information on the tournament, visit extratable.org.