LOYD STAR — Lincoln County food pantries and Mississippi’s Food Network had a tough time this summer with limited supplies of canned goods and inflation making work difficult. Since then, the food pantry at Mt. Zion Baptist Church has seen an outpouring of support.

Last Wednesday, Mt. Zion Baptist Church received a truckload of donations from Extra Table. Extra Table was launched by restaurateur Robert St. John in 2009 and is based in Hattiesburg. 

St. John started out by fundraising in order to stock food pantries and soup kitchens across the state. Extra Table started purchasing food by the truckload and transportation of donations from its own Warehouse in 2020. 

Randal Lofton, who oversees the food pantry at Mt. Zion, said Extra Table is a new partner and thanked the Bank of Brookhaven for getting them connected. 

Food Pantries interested in receiving help from Extra Table must meet a few requirements to become a partner. 

• Complete the application and return it to Extra Table
• Shelving is required for food storage and all food must be stored six inches off of the floor
• Health and safety measures must be in place, met and maintained
• Understand a member from Extra Table Staff or a board member will do one visit at random each year
• Submit the super simple monthly reports. Failure to submit reports two months in a row will result in Extra Table pausing or terminating food shipments. 
• Send pictures and keep Extra Table updated

If you are interested in partnering with Extra Table please contact executive director Martha Allen at martha@extratable.org to obtain an application to become a partner.