Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Once again, Kosciusko REMC is teaming up with the Society of St. Andrew to offer free potatoes to the hungry.
"Hopefully, the potatoes will go to the people who are deprived, who are hungry, who need them," said David McCleary, Hunger Relief Advocate for Northern Indiana United Methodist Conference Society of St. Andrew.
A total of 44,000 to 55,000 pounds of potatoes will be given away at the REMC parking lot, 523 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, Nov. 26, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or while supplies last. The potatoes are provided free from the Society of St. Andrew; no paperwork or forms are required.
Local food agencies also are participating to distribute the potatoes, including Helping Hands food pantries of Bourbon and Mentone, North Manchester Food Pantry, North Webster Area Community Services, Roving Chef Charlie of Sidney, Washington Township Food Pantry of Pierceton, Hephzibah House of Winona Lake, Packerton Community Association, Syracuse Food Pantry, Combined Community Services, Our Father's House and The Salvation Army, Warsaw.
Any other Kosciusko County food agency, church food pantry or soup kitchen, and any individuals that need or know of someone in need of potatoes are invited to participate. The potatoes are not for resale and are given on an honor system.
"We have the county pretty much covered with the food agencies," said McCleary.
REMC employees, Boy Scout Troops 761 and 715 of Pierceton and Winona Lake, and United Methodist Men from Walnut Creek and Pleasant Grove churches are helping unload and load the potatoes.
Kosciusko REMC's Operation Round Up Fund provided a $2,500 grant for semi transportation, driver and bagging costs of the potatoes.
Operation Round Up is an ongoing charitable fund-raising program whose mission is to benefit worthwhile community programs. Participating members of REMC agree to have their monthly electric bills rounded up to the nearest dollar amount. The cents generated by this process are deposited in the REMC Round Up Fund, which is held with the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. The program is totally voluntary, said Kim Shumaker, communication specialist with REMC.
Larry Easterday, manager of marketing/member relations for Kosciusko REMC, said this is the second year for the potato giveaway.
"I was absolutely shocked at how many people came to get potatoes last year," said Easterday.
Steve Rhodes, REMC chief executive officer, is very supportive of the program, said Easterday, and lets employees take time off to assist.
McCleary said, "I thought it went very well last year." Cars were lined up 1-1/2 hours before the giveaway was to commence, he said.
The potatoes last year came from Maine, "but that doesn't always happen," said McCleary. "I'm not sure where they're coming from this year."
The Gleaning Network of the Society of St. Andrew coordinates volunteers, growers and distribution agencies from around the country to salvage food for the hungry.
The Gleaning Network also gathers other vegetables, such as onions, green beans and carrots, from farmers, but potatoes are the main crop because the vegetable has so many uses.
According to information provided by McCleary from Food Finders Food Bank Inc., 738,000 Hoosiers do not have enough to eat. Of Indiana's population, 28.1 percent are children under 12 who are at risk of hunger and 275,000 Hoosier children may not develop properly for lack of nutritious food. An estimated 13.15 percent of Indiana's citizens don't get enough nourishment to enable them to lead productive lives.
