For weeks now, 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 (look for the pod) near the corner of Florida and Main Streets. Tickets are on sale now for $5 and can be purchased from the mayor’s office, 4700 Main St.

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.

Zachary Rotarians will be volunteering to fill the gumbo bowls for those who have purchased tickets or for those who have ordered gumbo 'to go.'

Gumbo delivery will be available Friday to local businesses with 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 currently located in the parking lot next to the City Hall Annex building.

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 Saturday, Nov. 17, from 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 be volunteering with the collections.

In addition, the Zachary Fire Department will be visiting elementary schools in their fire trucks this week collecting canned goods.

Mayor David Amrhein and the City of Zachary has issued a challenge to Mayor Mac Watts and the City of Central to see 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.

Be sure to look for the PODS container at the annual Christmas parade and City Open House event on Saturday, Dec. 15. Canned goods 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 fundraisers such as these, the Zachary Community Food Pantry is able to provide much-needed food for the hungry in our area,” said Mayor David 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.