For weeks a committee has been organizing various community events to be held in conjunction with the Zachary Community Food Bank's Pack the Pantry challenge to be held throughout the month of November.

The community challenge brings together representatives from the City of Zachary, Zachary Community School District, Zachary Men’s Club, Rotary Club of Zachary, Legendz Sports Academy and area businesses to help feed the needy. All donations will remain in the local food pantry and will benefit families in the Zachary community.

Events include a gumbo sale on Friday, Nov. 16, in the City Hall parking lot - tickets are available for $5 and can be purchased from the mayor's office.

One-hundred percent of all proceeds from the gumbo sale will go directly to the Zachary Food Pantry. Paul Mier of Chris's Specialty Meats and Cajun Catch will be on-site cooking the gumbo.

Gumbo delivery on the day of the event is available to local business for orders of 10 or more.

In addition to the gumbo sale, students from Zachary schools will be competing to see who can collect the most canned goods. Donations will be delivered to a food pantry pod located in the City of Zachary parking lot (next to the mayor's office). Residents are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the pod on Friday, Nov. 16, from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m and on Saturday, Nov. 17, 8 a.m. - noon.

On Nov. 17, Mike Breaux, owner of PODS Containers will be giving away sausage po-boys to those citizens who donate non-perishable items. Legendz sports teams will also be on hand volunteering with collections.

In addition, the Zachary Fire Department will be visiting elementary schools in their fire trucks collecting canned goods in the days prior to the collection.

Mayor David Amrhein and the City of Zachary has issued a challenge to Mayor Mac Watts and the City of Central - which city can collect the most food during the food drive. The loser will have to wear a City of Zachary or City of Central t-shirt/hat to their respective City Council meetings.

Also, look for the PODS Container at the annual Christmas parade and city-wide open house event on Saturday, Dec. 15. Canned goods donations will be still be accepted at that time.

The new Zachary Food Pantry is slated to open over the Christmas holidays, and the City of Zachary plans to 'pack the pantry.'

"With the fundraisers such as these, the Zachary Community Food Pantry is able to provide much-needed food for the hungry in our area," said Mayor Amrhein.

The food pantry broke ground in September on a new $300,000 facility on property donated by the Zachary Men’s Club. The new facility measures about 3,000 square feet and will offer a waiting area and three offices for food pantry staff to better serve families in our area, Amrhein said.

The Zachary Food Pantry serves over 200 families in the Zachary community and the Town of Slaughter each month.

Be sure to get your tickets for the gumbo sale, and help Zachary pack the pantry Nov. 16-17.