There is something special about a good Southern meal, especially when it brings people together. And thanks to one Mississippi nonprofit, a simple pot of red beans and rice is doing a whole lot more than putting supper on the table.
Extra Table FEEDS, a Mississippi nonprofit that has spent the past 16 years fighting hunger across the state, has introduced its very first product, Extra Full Southern Red Beans & Rice. It is a convenient, nutritious meal with a mission that goes well beyond the dinner table.
The idea is simple: Feed four. Give 40.
For every bag purchased, Extra Table FEEDS provides 40 meals to Mississippians facing food insecurity. That means one purchase can feed a family of four while helping put food on the tables of neighbors who need it most.
And the meal itself is something Southerners know and love.
Made with Mississippi-grown rice and packed with vitamins and minerals, Extra Full Southern Red Beans & Rice is a one-pot meal that can be ready in just 30 minutes. It is the kind of easy, satisfying supper that works just as well on a busy weeknight as it does when you need something warm and filling after a long day.
But what makes this particular bag of red beans and rice worth talking about is the story behind it.
For 16 years, Extra Table FEEDS has worked to address hunger in Mississippi by providing quality, nutritious food to those who need it. The organization operates without government funding and says 100 percent of the funds it raises are spent purchasing food.
Now, with the introduction of Extra Full, the nonprofit is giving Mississippians another way to support that mission while enjoying something delicious themselves.
And with the holidays approaching, the timing could not be better.
We all have those people on our Christmas lists who seem to have everything. Rather than buying another gift that may end up tucked away in a closet, why not give something that can make a difference?
A bag of Extra Full Southern Red Beans & Rice makes a thoughtful stocking stuffer, a little something for a neighbor, a hostess gift, or an addition to a Mississippi-made gift basket. It is practical, affordable in spirit, and comes with a story worth sharing.
After all, there is something pretty wonderful about giving someone supper and knowing that same gift will help feed 40 more people.
Mississippi has always been a place where food means more than what is on the plate. We cook for our neighbors, take casseroles to families going through difficult times, and make sure there is room for one more at the table.
Extra Table FEEDS is carrying that same tradition forward, one bag of red beans and rice at a time.
And with a mission like that, this may be one of the most meaningful Mississippi-made gifts you can give this Christmas.
To purchase Extra Full Southern Red Beans & Rice or learn more about Extra Table FEEDS and its mission to fight hunger in Mississippi, visit extratable.org.
*All photos are courtesy of Extra Table Feeds
