Church needs volunteers to bag 40K pounds of sweet potatoes
The sweet potatoes will arrive in palletized loads. Volunteers will bag the produce in 10-pound bags and label for pick up by local charities. (Courtesy Cindy McMillion)
If you’ve got some energy to spare or young people to plug into a short, defined project, Church of the Holy Communion offers this project: On Saturday, Nov. 23, it is receiving a semi-load of sweet potatoes — 40,000 pounds — if you’re wondering.
They need to be bagged and tallied for pickup by dozens of local nonprofits that will manage the final distribution.
The work will start at 8 a.m. and conclude by noon. More than 100 volunteers are needed.
“The volunteers will put the potatoes in 10-pound bags. If one agency asks for 100 pounds, we will count out those bags and put them in the pickup area with the organization’s name on it,” said Dorothy Brownyard, member of the congregation and its food-recovery ministry Recover Food-Feed Hope.
The project includes jobs for all ages. This photo was taken at last year’s crop drop at Church of the Holy Communion. (Courtesy Cindy McMillion)
“When they come, we’ll have volunteers, hopefully, some young people, strong young men, who will be loading the cars,” said Delia Parman, also a member of the congregation.
Volunteers are also needed to break down the cardboard cartons the potatoes will be in when they arrive.
The project is part of a series of “crop drops” across Tennessee. The church is partnering with the Society of St. Andrews, Project Green Fork and Mid-South farmers for the second time.
Nonprofits that have signed up to receive the produce represent a wide array of local charities, from the Mid-South Food Bank to the Dorothy Day House, plus faith groups, including First Congregational Church in Midtown, which serve hot meals.
Volunteers are asked to sign up for specific jobs in the registration link. The start time is included. All the work will take place rain or shine in the church’s parking lot at 4645 Walnut Grove Road.
Topics
Crop drop Church of the Holy Communion nonprofitsJane Roberts
Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.
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