Seven North Mississippi mayors are leading the charge for their cities in collecting food donations that will benefit local food pantries in the fourth annual March of the Mayors.

The event, created by Hattiesburg nonprofit Extra Table, started in South Mississippi during the pandemic as a way to give back to the community while maintaining social distancing. Last year, 34 cities participated in the drive, packing more than 7,000 boxes that were distributed to pantries on the coast, the Pine Belt and in the Jackson Metro area.

This is the first year cities in North Mississippi will also be collecting donations. The mayors of Columbus, Starkville, West Point, Caledonia, Baldwyn, Oxford and Tupelo are heading the drive for each of their cities.

Columbus Mayor Keith Gaskin connected with Extra Table at a Mississippi Municipal League Small Town Conference in October. The organization was trying to garner enough interest to expand the drive.

Gaskin said he knew signing up for the drive would be a great way to give back to the community while also enjoying a little competition between neighboring cities.

“It’s a wonderful way for the cities to all work together to support pantries in their areas,” he said. “It’s a friendly competition … but it’s also a fun way to celebrate Mardi Gras this month up here and to give back to the community.”

Each city will collect a different canned food item to be dropped off at designated locations any time before March 1. In Columbus, canned soup donations can be dropped off at City Hall, Fire Station One or at the Columbus Police Department.

Anyone is welcome to set up their own drop-off location.

Starkville will collect peanut butter, while Caledonia will collect rice, West Point dried beans, Tupelo tuna, Oxford green beans and Baldwyn canned fruit. On March 5, volunteers will convene at 9 a.m. in Tupelo Furniture Market to pack boxes with all seven items and distribute them to food pantries in each city.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill is happy with her city’s designation, saying peanut butter is more fun than beans or soup.

Even so, the food drive will be a fun way to boost community engagement.

“I think it’s a nice opportunity for us to participate and a good way to do it,” she said. “We want whatever participation we can manage and are looking forward to seeing what we can get.”

Starkville donations of peanut butter jars can be dropped off at the Starkville Police Department, City Hall, Fire Station One or at The Partnership on East Main Street. Donations from the drive will benefit Bully’s Pantry on the MSU campus.

Caledonia Mayor Betty Darnell said while one-pound bags of rice are preferred, the town will accept any size.

“We just want as many (donations) as possible,” she said. “I fully believe in giving back to the community, and we have people in Caledonia that help do this in our town for our local food pantry. We know the need for people (when it comes to) food, and it’s just important to help those that are just a little bit less fortunate or have hit on hard times.”

Donations in Caledonia can be left at Town Hall, the Water and Sewer Department or the Caledonia Package Store. Caledonia donations will benefit the Caledonia Community Pantry.

Darnell also encouraged community members, church groups and civic groups to consider volunteering for the food packing party after the drive has concluded.

Gaskin said the drive is a great opportunity for individuals, schools and local businesses to get involved with supporting local food pantries, like Helping Hands, which will receive packed boxes in Columbus.

“Helping Hands and other food pantries in the area do a wonderful job with helping folks that live in our area and need a little hand up,” he said. “I really want the folks in North Mississippi to show the folks in South Mississippi how important this is and how seriously we take helping those in need.”

McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.