A bag of potatoes offers unlimited potential.
The tubers can be mashed, scalloped, baked or fried. One 10-pound bag could help stretch the food budget for an individual or family over days and weeks.
That’s the idea behind a potato distribution by Grace United Methodist Church each year. The church has ordered 42,000 pounds of potatoes, and anyone in the community can come and pick up a 10-pound sack for the holidays.
Volunteers will be out from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin.
The goal is to make sure no one in the community goes hungry this holiday season, said Andy Kinsey, senior pastor at Grace United Methodist Church.
"The potato is such a multi-use food. We want to give these potato bags out, and we do not want any left over," he said.
Grace United Methodist Church has hosted the potato distribution since 2012. The event started as an outreach of its men’s ministry, as they ordered the potatoes from Wisconsin, helped unload them in the church parking lot, and organized the drive-up distribution for people.
An emphasis has been on getting an allotment of potatoes to local food pantries, social service agencies and other organizations. The church has worked out a strategy to give some of the potatoes to organizers of the Good Cheer Fund, to help the homeless aid group KIC-IT and to have bags available for passengers on Access Johnson County.
"While we want very much for families and people to come individually, we are also helping others collect them," Kinsey said. "Let’s face it, we have 42,000 pounds of potatoes, and we want to get rid of them."
People who want a bag only have to drive into the established pick-up zone in the church’s east parking lot. Volunteers will put the potatoes in each car without the drivers even needing to get out, Kinsey said.
"It’s almost like drive-thru," he said.
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Potato Distribution
What: A giveaway of 10-pound bags of potatoes to anyone who needs them.
When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin
Who can take part: The event is open to the general public, and the potatoes are free to take.
Information: (317) 736-7962
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