March of the Mayors

11 Mayors across the Pine Belt have agreed to participate in Extra Table’s event, MARCH OF THE MAYORS! It’s a canned food drive, a fundraiser and it’s Mississippi’s Largest Food Box Packing Party.

The March of the Mayors is a 4-week-long event, driven by donations of specific food items, that will benefit Extra Table’s partner food pantries. Each participating city is collecting one specific food item that will be dropped off at different select locations. Food collection last for 4 weeks with a final box packing party where volunteers are needed. ALL FOOD collected in the Pine Belt will stay in the Pine Belt going directly to Extra Table’s partner food pantries!

The City of Collins is collecting “Spaghetti Noodles” from February 1st to March 1st. Donation boxes are located in City Hall, Collins Fire Department and Ramey’s.

Thank you for your donations.

Junior League of Covington County to participate in CCSD Backpack Program

The Junior League of Covington County recently adopted the Covington County School District’s Backpack Program as its first service project. The Backpack Program discretely provides food to children from kindergarten through sixth grade who have been identified by counselors as not having enough food to eat at home.

“It’s very important to us that the children of Covington County are taken care of, so when this service project needed a sponsor we jumped at the chance,” said Morgan Shoemake, JLCC President. “We are proud to also have our local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma join us in keeping this program up and running,”

Each Friday during the school year, designated children are provided with healthy options such as fruit, ravioli cups, cereal, and shelf-stable milk in their backpacks to take home for the weekend.

JLCC’s recent Miss Okatoma Pageant raised $4,300, which will go directly towards purchasing food to sustain the Backpack Program. JLCC members will pack bags and deliver them to Covington County Schools each Friday throughout the school year.

Individuals who would like to assist with food donations are encouraged to participate in the monthly drives hosted by JLCC. For the month of June, the organization will be accepting fruit cups at the following locations: Roman’s Muffler Shop, Stock Pro, and Don’s Farm Store, all in Collins.

Governor signed House Bill 521 in Collins

Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 521 at the City of Collins Fire Department on April 17, 2023.

House Bill 521 is An Act To Authorize The Mississippi Insurance Department To Create The Mississippi Length-of-service Award Program (losap) For The Recruitment And Retention Of Volunteer Firefighters; To Provide That The Program Will Provide Paid Length-of-service Awards To Eligible Volunteer Firefighters; To Provide Definitions; To Provide That The Losap Shall Be Administered By The Mississippi Length-of-service Award Program Board Of Trustees And To Provide The Members Who Will Serve On The Board; To Provide The Powers And Duties Of The Losap Board Of Trustees; To Create The “Mississippi Volunteer Firefighter Length-of-service Awards Program Fund” (losap Fund) Maintained By The State Treasurer And To Provide What Monies In The Fund May Be Used For; To Provide That The Mississippi Insurance Department Shall Notify The State Fire Marshal And The Losap Board Of Trustees Of Any Volunteer Fire Department Member Who Is Ineligible To Receive The Losap Funds; And For Related Purposes.