Potato drop planned to help mash out hunger

Several campus organizations will join in a worthwhile cause on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Walter B. Williams Park in an effort to feed the hungry with Georgia College & State University’s first-ever “potato drop.”

GIVE center Director Kendall Stiles said the potato drop will be “something different” that students and faculty can get involved in.

A potato drop occurs when “commercially unmarketable” potatoes are donated to the Society of St. Andrew’s Potato Project. Though the potatoes are unmarketable, they are still edible and are transferred to locations by tractor-trailer load where they may be used to feed the hungry.

According to Stiles, sponsors of the event are currently looking for homes for 45,000 pounds of potatoes.

“This is a way that we can recycle the potatoes to give to people who need it in the community,” Stiles said.

Sponsors of the event include the GIVE Center, Gamma Sigma Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi and the Office of Service Learning, as well as Tri County EMC Foundation, Inc. who is funding the project with a $2,400 grant.

“The basic thing [Tri County EMC Foundation, Inc.] see in why it’s a good project is that it’s going to feed people in the surrounding counties,” Stiles said, noting that people in Wilkinson, Washington, Bibb, Jones, Putnam, Hancock and Houston counties will also receive potatoes through the project.

However, Stiles said the potatoes will find homes in a variety of places. She said the Children’s Methodist Home in Macon has already signed up to receive 500 pounds, and the Food Pantry in Savannah will also be receiving potatoes, as well as other nearby eligible homes.

“Our basic goal is that we really want to find people that need the
potatoes,” Stiles said.

Stiles said one of the interesting aspects of this project is that it is part of an initiative signed by President Bush called the Unity in the Spirit of America Act, which calls for the organization of at least 5,000 “volunteer service projects” in America by next Sept. 11. Each project will be held in memory of a victim of the terrorist attacks.

The potato drop will be held in memory of Marjorie Champion Salamone, 53, “an active participant in charitable causes and service projects,” of Springfield, Va, who was killed in the attack on the Pentagon.

Stiles said the softball and baseball teams, as well as at least one freshman seminar class, will be taking part in the project and that several other organizations have shown interest in participating.

“There already have been groups that have shown interest that they want to take part,” she said.

Stiles is also proud of the fact that the event is being co-sponsored by the GIVE Center and the Department of Service Learning, which she hopes is helping to “bridge the gap between academics and student affairs.”

Service Learning Coordinator Teresa Taylor said she will approach the project from three different angles first, as a volunteer, second, as an advisor for Gamma Beta Phi and third, working with students from the School of Business to help them earn their 20 hours of community service.

Taylor said to her, being a volunteer is one of the most important aspects.

“I think it’s important to give back to the community and I can certainly be out there all day helping my community to feed the hungry,” Taylor said.

Gamma Sigma Sigma, who will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their Founder’s Day along with the event, is a co-sponsor of the event and is planning several activities that will be fun for everyone. Service Vice President Devon Sheppard said there will be a mash potato dance contest, sack race and, of course, the hot potato game.

Sheppard said the potato drop is a special impact area for the group.

“By doing the potato drop, getting 45,000 pounds of potatoes, we are able to feed a lot of hungry people,” Sheppard said. “There are a lot of people in the United States that are going hungry every day.”

Stiles said the GIVE Center is looking for volunteers to cut and tie the mesh bags that will be used, as well as helping to find homes for these potatoes. She said students should look out for a lot of “creative advertising” for the event.

Stiles said one of the most important aspects of this project is that volunteers will actually be able to see some of the people who receive these potatoes.

“One of my main goals is to put a face with service and that is a prime example,” Stiles said.

The event will start at about 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 12 with juice and donuts. There will be several fun activities, as well as lunch to be served for volunteers. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the GIVE Center at 445-5936.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 4 2002. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry