After 16 years of feeding hungry Mississippians, Extra Table FEEDS is turning the spotlight on some of the people who have helped make that work possible.
Extra Table FEEDS has announced the winners of its inaugural Good On The Go Awards, a new statewide recognition program honoring the volunteers, businesses, food pantries, elected officials, young people, advocates and community partners who have gone above and beyond in the fight against hunger.
For the first time in the organization’s 16-year history, Extra Table FEEDS opened nominations for nine award categories. Nominations were accepted for four weeks before a selection committee reviewed the submissions and selected the inaugural class of honorees.
And choosing the winners was not easy. In fact, Extra Table FEEDS ultimately decided to recognize multiple winners in several categories this first year.
“Sixteen years is a long time to do this work, and there are so many people who have carried Extra Table FEEDS through both good times and the really hard times,” said Martha Allen Price, Executive Director of Extra Table FEEDS. “When our selection committee started going through the nominations, it became clear that in some categories, choosing just one winner didn’t tell the whole story. There were people and organizations whose impact simply deserved to be recognized.”
The result is an inaugural class of Good On The Go Award winners representing communities across Mississippi and nearly every way someone can help fight hunger.
There is an award for the kid who grew up volunteering. There is one for the board member who answered the phone through years of challenges and growth. There are awards for the food pantry leaders doing the work every day, businesses that provide the manpower and resources to make big projects happen, elected officials who answer the call during emergencies, media partners who carry Extra Table FEEDS’ message across the airwaves, and organizations that turn service into action.
There is even an award for an EGGcellent event. The names are playful. The impact behind them is serious. The inaugural awards include the UnBEETable Award, Lettuce Celebrate Award, Orange We Grateful for You Award, EGGcellent Event Award, What a Pear Award, RADish Award, Spreading the Jam Award, Cream of the Crop Award and Everyday I’m BRUSSELing Award.
A tenth honor, the Founder’s Award, was not open for nominations and was personally by the Extra Table FEEDS Founder, Robert St. John, to recognize extraordinary leadership and longstanding impact on Extra Table FEEDS and its mission.
The awards are part of Extra Table FEEDS’ Good On The Go Tour, which takes the celebration directly to the winners rather than asking the winners to come to an awards ceremony.
“We spend our lives asking people to show up for Extra Table FEEDS,” Price said. “For Good On The Go, we wanted to flip that around. We wanted to get in the car, go to their communities, walk into their businesses, schools, offices and food pantries and say, ‘Today, we showed up for you!’”
The inaugural honorees represent the network of relationships that has allowed Extra Table FEEDS to grow from a small idea founded in 2009 into a statewide hunger-relief organization serving communities across Mississippi every month.
Extra Table FEEDS purchases new, nutritious, shelf-stable food and delivers it directly to food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state at no cost to those organizations. Extra Table FEEDS does not accept government funding, making private donors, corporate partners, volunteers and community relationships essential to carrying out its mission.
“We absolutely could not do what we do without our donors, partners and friends,” Price said. “And we especially could not do it without champions like these. These winners represent what happens when people decide that feeding their neighbors matters — and then keep showing up to do something about it.”
The Good On The Go Awards will become an annual opportunity for Extra Table FEEDS to recognize the Mississippians who help move its mission forward.
2026 GOOD ON THE GO AWARD WINNERS
1. UnBEETable Award – Exceptional Board Member
Presented to a board member whose leadership, generosity, advocacy and commitment to Extra Table have made an exceptional impact.
DAVID FORTENBERRY | Hattiesburg
For 12 years, David Fortenberry has been one of Extra Table’s most steadfast leaders, serving in virtually every role on the board and helping guide the organization through seasons of tremendous growth as well as some of its most challenging moments. Fortenberry was instrumental in hiring Executive Director Martha Allen in 2018 and has remained the kind of board member who is only one phone call away. His leadership, belief in the mission and love for his community have helped shape Extra Table into the statewide organization it is today.
2. Lettuce Celebrate Award – Outstanding Food Pantry or Soup Kitchen
Presented to an Extra Table partner pantry or soup kitchen whose leadership, energy and commitment to serving its community exemplify the very best of hunger-relief work. Each recipient receives $1,000 in food for their organization.
KATHY CLEM | Good Samaritan Center | Jackson
Kathy Clem leads the Good Samaritan Center with a deep personal connection to its mission and the organization her mother helped begin. Through initiatives including the Hub for the Hungry founded during covid with Extra Table FEEDS, Clem has become a passionate advocate for people facing food insecurity in the Jackson area and a trusted partner in Extra Table FEEDS work.
LESLIE HITCHCOCK | Aberdeen Loaves & Fishes | Aberdeen
Leslie Hitchcock brings extraordinary enthusiasm, optimism and energy to serving families in Aberdeen. Her willingness to jump into new opportunities — including making sure Aberdeen became part of Extra Table FEEDS’ March of the Mayors — reflects the attitude that makes strong community partnerships work.
3. Orange We Grateful for You Award – Outstanding Volunteer
Presented to volunteers who consistently go the extra mile for Extra Table. Whether packing food, working events, writing thank-you notes or stepping in wherever needed, these individuals embody generosity and service.
PATTY MUNN | Hattiesburg
Patty Munn represents not only her own years of service to Extra Table FEEDS but an entire generation of volunteers who helped build the organization. Alongside a close-knit group of friends, Patty manned water stations, wrote donor thank-you notes, packed food boxes and showed up wherever Extra Table FEEDS needed an extra set of hands. Her years of love, dedication and belief in the mission helped create the volunteer culture Extra Table FEEDS continues to treasure today.
LISA BROWN | Hattiesburg
Lisa Brown’s Extra Table FEEDS story began after her daughter, Mackenzie, became involved with the organization as a college intern. Lisa soon made the mission her own. From food packings and March of the Mayors to events and countless behind-the-scenes needs, she has become the kind of volunteer who simply asks where she is needed and gets to work. Her service has become a family legacy of generosity and an example of what it means to give your time with joy.
4. EGGcellent Event Award – Outstanding Special Project or Event
Recognizes organizations that turn an event, service project or big idea into meaningful action against hunger.
LEADERSHIP PINEBELT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS | Hattiesburg
Kyle Napier, Courtney Payton, Karelia Pitts, Austin Waldrup, Brandon Williams
Leadership Pinebelt Young Professionals embraced Extra Table FEEDS’ Extra Full program and helped turn a meal-packing project into a community-wide effort. Through fundraising, promotion and volunteer recruitment, the group brought hundreds of people together TWICE to pack meals for Mississippians facing food insecurity — demonstrating what can happen when young leaders rally a community around a common purpose.
MISSISSIPPI POWER | Gulfport, Meridian & Hattiesburg
Mississippi Power made service the centerpiece of its Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities, bringing employees together across multiple offices to help feed their neighbors. Their company-wide commitment transformed a day of service into tangible help for Mississippi families and demonstrated the power of a business using its people, resources and culture for good.
5. What a Pear Award – Outstanding Business Partner
Celebrates businesses that are the perfect partners to Extra Table FEEDS — organizations that believe in the mission, share the story, engage their employees and repeatedly step up when Extra Table FEEDS calls.
COOPERATIVE ENERGY
Cooperative Energy has proven that a great business partnership is about writing a check but bringing then bringing the A Team in to do the work! Their team brought energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to participate fully in Extra Table FEEDS’ work — even when participation calls for a few unforgettable peanut butter and jelly dance moves. Their support and spirit make them a true partner in the food fight.
SPIRE
Spire has supported Extra Table FEEDS from the beginning with its “Sea of Orange” volunteers in orange company shirts at March of the Mayors. From setup and unloading to keeping the event stocked, wrapping pallets, helping with the press conference, hauling out the trash and locking the doors at the end of the day, Spire has been there every step of the way. They are the muscle and dependable partnership behind one of Extra Table FEEDS’ largest annual projects.
ATMOS ENERGY
Atmos Energy has consistently shown what it means to be a true community partner. The company and its employees support Extra Table FEEDS not only financially, but through participation, advocacy and a willingness to step up when asked. Together, Extra Table FEEDS and Atmos have fueled communities throughout Covid with snack packs while kids were home from school and in the wake of Ice Storm Fern, they stepped up to be sure communities had the food they need. Their commitment to the communities and customers they serve makes Atmos and Extra Table FEEDS a perfect “pear.”
6. RADish Award – Health & Nutrition Star
Recognizes an individual, business or organization whose leadership helps Extra Table FEEDS develop healthier, smarter and more innovative ways to feed Mississippians.
ENTERGY
Entergy played an important role in helping Extra Table FEEDS develop and launch Extra Full, the organization’s mobile volunteer red beans and rice meal-packing program. From the earliest packing events to emergency response efforts, Entergy has helped turn an idea into a program capable of bringing volunteers together while producing thousands of nutritious meals for Mississippi families.
7. Spreading the Jam Award – Storyteller, Advocate, Media Personality or Influencer
Recognizes those who use their voice, platform or audience to spread Extra Table FEEDS’ message and help more Mississippians understand the realities of hunger in their own communities.
STAFFORD SHURDEN | Drew
Stafford Shurden has used his voice, personality and platform to champion Extra Table FEEDS and the fight against hunger in the Mississippi Delta. His ability to tell a story, connect with people and make the mission personal has helped Extra Table FEEDS reach audiences it could never reach alone.
GULF COAST RADIO GROUP & TUPELO RADIO GROUP
From a family-owned business spanning generations to the on-air personalities listeners welcome into their homes and cars every day, Gulf Coast Radio Group and Tupelo Radio Group have carried Extra Table FEEDS’ message across the airwaves near and far. Their continued willingness to share the mission, promote events and invite their audiences into the food fight makes them an invaluable part of Team Extra Table FEEDS.
8. Cream of the Crop Award – Outstanding Youth Individual or Organization
Recognizes young Mississippians age 25 and under who demonstrate that there is no minimum age for making a difference.
EMERY POWELL | Hattiesburg
Emery Powell has grown up serving alongside Extra Table FEEDS — and earned this recognition on her own merit. From Farm to Fork and pallet packings to spending her last two birthdays volunteering at March of the Mayors, Emery has repeatedly chosen service. Her willingness to give her time and energy to feeding others represents exactly the kind of next-generation leadership Mississippi needs.
GULFPORT MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL | Gulfport
The Gulfport Mayor’s Youth Council demonstrates the extraordinary impact young people can make when given an opportunity to serve. The Gulfport Mayor’s Youth Council was the first to join the March of the Mayors program and through their example city after city has followed their lead introducing hundreds of youth to Extra Table FEEDS. Through their involvement with Extra Table FEEDS, these young leaders have put community service into action and shown that fighting hunger is a responsibility that can be embraced at every age.
9. Everyday I’m BRUSSELing Award – Outstanding Elected Official
Recognizes elected officials who go beyond their titles and use their leadership, relationships and ability to mobilize resources to help Mississippians when they need it most.
2026 Emergency Response Honorees
DE’KEITHER STAMPS | Jackson
De’Keither Stamps was recognized for stepping up during the response to Winter Storm Fern and helping connect people, resources and communities during a critical moment. His willingness to act when Mississippians needed help exemplifies public service beyond the walls of government.
MAYOR ROBYN TANNEHILL | Oxford
Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill was recognized for her leadership and partnership during Winter Storm Fern, when communities across North Mississippi faced dangerous conditions and immediate food needs. Her ability to help mobilize local resources and work collaboratively helped get assistance where it was needed. The Oxford Team distributed around 12,000 of Extra Table FEEDS’ Extra Full red beans and rice meals.
COMMISSIONER ANDY GIPSON | Jackson
Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson was recognized for his leadership in partnering with Extra Table FEEDS during Winter Storm Fern. Through collaboration between Extra Table and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, more than 40,240 hot meals were served to residents in affected North Mississippi communities. The partnership demonstrated how quickly the public and nonprofit sectors can respond when the focus stays on helping neighbors.
10. Founder’s Award – Selected by Extra Table FEEDS Founder Robert St. John
The Founder’s Award is presented to an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership and impact in the fight against food insecurity. Unlike the other Good On The Go Awards, this honor is not selected through the public nomination process.
CAROLYN HOOD | Hattiesburg
For years, Carolyn Hood has been woven into the story of Extra Table FEEDS.
She has been a source of prayer, counsel, generosity and encouragement. She has attended board meetings, supported events, helped serve neighbors in need and answered the call whenever Extra Table FEEDS needed help. Her support stretches back through Farm to Fork, Over the Edge and years of Extra Table FEEDS growth.
Her generosity has taken many forms — from helping Extra Table FEEDS print the thousands upon thousands of food boxes that have traveled across Mississippi to simply being there when leadership needed advice, encouragement or prayer.
The inaugural Founder’s Award honors not one contribution, but years of showing up.
