MISSISSIPPI — A statewide campaign bringing together mayors, Mardi Gras flair and food pantries is returning in 2026 to help feed Mississippians in need.
Extra Table announced the return of March of the Mayors, a multiweek canned food drive and fundraising effort that will involve more than 55 mayors and their cities across five regions of the state: the Delta, North Mississippi, the Jackson metro area, the Pine Belt and the Gulf Coast.
The campaign’s food collection runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 27, followed by a weeklong series of food box packing events from March 2–6. Organizers describe the effort as a combination food drive, fundraiser and what they call Mississippi’s largest coordinated food box packing initiative.
All food collected during the campaign will remain in the region where it is donated and will be distributed through Extra Table’s local partner food pantries serving those communities.
During the March 2–6 packing week, volunteers will gather at regional sites to assemble boxes of shelf-stable food. Those boxes will then be delivered to participating cities’ partner pantries for distribution to residents facing food insecurity.
Organizers say the event is designed to harness the energy of Mardi Gras season — complete with beads, Moon Pies and second-line-style celebrations — while focusing on a serious mission: reducing hunger at the local level.
Extra Table is encouraging residents, civic groups and businesses to get involved by donating food, volunteering at packing events or supporting the campaign financially. Additional details, including drop-off locations and packing party schedules, will be announced in the coming weeks.
More information about March of the Mayors, including what your city is collecting and volunteer opportunities, is available at extratable.org/march.
