While Ward 4 Councilwoman Lavonne Harris is hanging on to third place with 67 cans of soup donated to the March of the Mayors food drive this year, she is primed to make a last-minute push to take the lead in the city council’s competition.
Harris hopes to overtake Ward 2 Councilman Roderick Smith, who sits pretty atop the leaderboard with 304 cans of soup donated since Jan. 26. Harris said she can’t wait to have him “watch (her) smoke.”
“He is going to do him, and he’s got people that (are) going to support him (but) I (have) got people that (are) going to support me,” Harris told The Dispatch. “And … I’m out there. People know me and they know him, but I think they know me a little bit more than they know him. … I’m going to play the game. We’re going to see what it does.”
Smith said he feels confident with the significant lead he’s built and is certain his constituents will continue to lend their support like they have all donation season.
“Ever since I’ve been elected, Ward 2 (has) always said they always (will) have my back, and they’ve been having my back right now,” Smith said.
This year marks the sixth annual March of the Mayors food drive, but it is only the third year cities from North Mississippi have participated in the statewide effort. Each year, food donations are collected and distributed to local food pantries after the drive, which is organized by Hattiesburg-based nonprofit Extra Table.
This year, Columbus, Starkville, West Point and Caledonia are each asking citizens to donate specific food items for the drive through Feb. 27.
Columbus is collecting canned soup that can be dropped off at City Hall, Fire Station 1 or Columbus Police Department. Starkville will collect canned green beans that can be left at City Hall, Fire Station 1, Starkville Police Department, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said she would like to see strong community engagement and support as the drive continues through February.
“There’s always hope for community support in any of these efforts that are going to the areas that are in need, food insecurity being a very, very serious one,” Spruill said. “(And) that I do think we have been supportive of before, and are continuing to do so through this program.”
Caledonia is asking citizens to collect one-pound bags of spaghetti noodles that can be donated at Town Hall, the Caledonia Shop and Save and the Caledonia Package Store. West Point is collecting one-pound bags of dried beans that can be dropped off at City Hall.
Canned goods collected will be distributed back to North Mississippi food pantries on March 3 after being packed in Tupelo, a press release from Extra Table said.
Competition for a cause
While March of the Mayors is typically intended to be a “fun” competition amongst North Mississippi mayors, the competitive bug in Columbus this year shifted toward the city council.
After a slow start to donations, Mayor Stephen Jones said he challenged members of the council to compete against one another to see who could donate the most cans of soup.
After that, the officials – and their constituents – were off to the races.
“When (citizens) bring in donations, they’re telling which ward they’re from and who they’re donating it to,” Jones said. “… So that’s been pretty fun (to see) the citizens are now getting into it as well.”
As of Wednesday, the city has collected 1,055 cans of soup since the drive began.
After a competitive three weeks Smith leads with 304 cans while Jones’ wife Stephanie Jones sits in the second slot with 220 cans.
“With my wife, whatever she raises, I’m helping her,” Stephen Jones said. “If she gets the win, that’s a win for the team.”
In the third slot, it’s a close contest between Ward 4 Councilwoman Lavonne Harris and Vice Mayor Ethel Stewart of Ward 1 at 67 and 66 cans, respectively.
While Smith would like to take home the bragging rights of a win, he hopes that community members remember the importance of the drive and the impact it has for local food insecurity.
“We really have been getting more people involved, and at the end of the day, we’re all one Columbus,” Smith said. “… At the end of the day, it ain’t gonna be Councilman Smith’s canned goods, or Councilwoman Harris’, canned goods … it’s gonna be the city of Columbus’s canned goods.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
