Feeding the hungry in the Tri-City area is more about working together than it is about anything else. Currently, there are many programs available to help feed those in need. Many churches and organizations sponsor food banks or feeding programs that help those who would otherwise miss a meal here or there, or even more often than that.
The state of the local economy—I think everyone knows several people who are out of work and who have been out of work for some time—puts added pressure on these groups to provide more and more food for the needy. About two weeks ago three local churches split the fuel cost to have a truck load of potatoes hauled in from Maine. The project, coordinated through the Society of Saint Andrews, provides truck loads of potatoes for redistribution to food banks, church feeding programs, and any other groups that help feed the hungry.
They do this by working with local church groups who organize what they call a Potato Drop. The truck rolls in early on the morning of the drop, and a small group of people meet to unload the pallets full of potatoes. Later that morning, volunteers arrive from all sorts of groups, churches, scouts, and neighbors. They help redistribute the potatoes form 50-pound bags into bags weighing approximately 10-pounds apiece. The smaller bags are then sorted and stacked in piles for different groups to pick up.
This potato drop was sponsored by the United Methodist Men (UMM) from Wesley, Ivey, and Highland United Methodist churches in Colonial Heights. UMM members from the three churches met at five in the morning Dec. 4th just in time for the truck that came in from Maine. The truck contained 900, 50-pound bags of potatoes. It took only a short time to unload the truck, using a donated fork lift and pallet jack.
A few hours later, volunteers started to show up for the repackaging effort. At first, the volunteers gathered round a group of four tables pushed together. Soon, there wasn’t enough room and more tables were added. Not long after that, the big table was split into two tables, and a third set of tables were brought in to handle the influx of volunteer help.
In all, it took just over two hours to redistribute the potatoes. In all, over 100 people were involved in the potato drop, and 22 different groups benefited from the potatoes. Dutch Garrett, the project manager and former UMM President from Highland United Methodist Church (UMC), said it wasn’t surprising to have so many volunteers, considering all three churches were involved and had advertised the date.
Wesley UMM President Rich Pingel was quick to point out that the churches had been trying to get a potato drop for the past couple years, but a shortage of potatoes and the cost of trucking them out of Maine were serious road blocks. This year, Pingel and Garrett decided to bite the bullet and come up with the $2,000 needed for fuel costs. At a meeting to discuss the drop, Ivey UMM President Clay Edwards said his organization would also contribute to the fuel costs.
“Once we put up the money, it was just a matter of scheduling a date for the drop,” Pingle said.
On another front, Highland United Methodist Church’s Wednesday night community supper is celebrating an anniversary. The program got its start a year ago, and served only a few people initially. But recently, they have been averaged feeding more than 60 people per night. The meals are not extravagant, and usually involve some form of a casserole, bread, and salad. Water, tea, and coffee are also provided at no cost. It is non-denominational and non-secular. Anyone is welcome to attend.
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