Help Robert St. John Send Food to Smithville

Like our neighbors in Alabama, several communites in Mississippi have been devasted by the wrath of last week's tornadoes.  None more so than Smithville which was virtually destroyed. Smithville is a town of 900 people and so far 15 have been found dead, and another 14 are still missing. The tornado left a three-mile path of destruction, half a mile wide. The 205-mile per hour winds destroyed 250 homes and another 70 in the neighboring Wren community. In all, 300 families have been displaced in a town of 900 people. Virtually everyone is without a home.

Chef, restaurateur and author Robert St. John is not sitting idly by.  Known for his creative, courageous and continued fight against hunger Robert is headed for Smithville next week with a truck load of food to boost their rapidly dwindling food supply.  He is challenging each of us to contribute to the effort so he can send a second truck.  Robert St. John is a force of nature and is not easily deterred by hurricanes, tornadoes or any stumbling block that might try to get in his way.  Whichever path he chooses...I am usually close behind along with his cadre of friends and supporters. 

Extra Table, his amazing food charity that partners with restaurants, is feeding people all over Mississippi. The idea is so simple it's astounding.  It all started with a simple concept: What if every restaurant in Mississippi had an extra table to feed the needy?  Working with giant food distributor Sysco, Robert developed a series of healthy "food bundles" that are packaged together and available for qualified food pantries, soup kitchens and mission kitchens.  The bundles of various sizes are ordered by participating restaurants on their regular Sysco food orders and delivered by Sysco to the charities once a month.   Robert personally picks up all administrative expenses so 100% of donations go to purchasing food. While restaurants have been the backbone of Extra Table, individuals may contribute by writing checks to one of two Community Foundations who serve as bankers for the project.  All of next week's Extra Table bundles are being diverted to Smithville.  We hope you'll help Robert and the people of Smithville by contributing to our efforts of filling a dire need by filling that second truck.

Please take a few minutes to read Robert's May 3 column on the Smithville effort at http://www.robertstjohn.com/ . If you want to learn more about Extra Table visit http://www.extratable.org./

Donations may be made by mail or on-line through the Greater Jackson Community Foundation http://www.cfgreaterjackson.org/ and the Greater Pine Belt Community Foundation http://www.pinebeltfoundation.org/.
Notation should be made on all donations -- check or on-line -- that the beneficiary is Extra Table.

Thanks to all of you for reading this blog and considering a donation.  And thanks to Robert for mobilizing us.
The food community has always taken a leadership role in championing hunger causes. Feeding our fellow man is a worthy calling indeed.