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Extra Full and community volunteers packed 10,000 meals in under two hours
VICKSBURG, MS – In a coordinated effort from the team at Extra Full, Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce, community volunteers, and the Vicksburg Young Professionals, 10,000 meals were measured, packed, weighed, and boxed in just under an hour and a half at the gym at Crawford Street church.
Last night, approximately 100 volunteers were divided up across five different stations. Eight teams of five portioned the mix into packages a dozen at a time, the team would ring a bell which were then picked up by a runner who would then take them to a portion control/weighing station. Once the meals were verified of the proper weight, another team would then seal them. The meals were then sent on to a final quality control group before being boxed up and shipped out the door.
Each meal costs $.55 to make, and local organizations raise the money to sponsor the raw food costs. Extra Table then provides the resources and logistics needed to package the meals.
Extra Full is a satellite program launched by Extra Table, based out Hattiesburg. Currently, Extra Table stocks 62 food pantry and soup kitchen partners across the state for free. The newest addition to its menu was created through partnerships with the University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Entergy, United Health, and Reed Foods.
The focus of Extra Full is creating a four-serving pot meal that can be on the table in less than a half hour just by boiling it for 30 minutes. All you need is water and a stovetop. The current meal for the program is red beans and rice using Two Brooks Farm rice grown in the Mississippi Delta. With a vitamin mix already included, the meal is high in fiber and protein, low in sodium, and has 22 vitamins and minerals.
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