News and Views

By Pastor Mark Claiborne, Sr.*

The annual Feed the Hungry Potato Drop was a successful event again this year, distributing 44,000 pounds of potatoes throughout Washington and Frederick counties, as well as locations in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. More than 70 volunteers came to Bethel UMC in Smithsburg to help on a beautiful March 25, and 33 organizations and churches also picked up potatoes to feed the hungry. More than 5,000 families were fed this year.

When the truckload of potatoes arrived Thursday evening, 10 volunteers unloaded the 22 pallets of potatoes, totaling 880 50-pound bags. On Saturday, volunteers outside the center loaded 50-pound bags for organizations picking up, while other volunteers inside the center broke down 50-pound bags of potatoes into 10-pound bags for individuals to pick up. They created more than 900 10-pound pound bags in just an hour and a half. The smaller bags were then delivered to four senior citizen complexes in Hagerstown and Frederick, and low-income housing developments. The entire project was completed by noon, including the pick-ups, deliveries and clean-up.

Organizations also donated funds to keep this ministry going to help end hunger. The donations, totaling $800, were given to the Society of St. Andrews on behalf of Centennial Memorial UMC and Bethel UMC.

Thank you to Bethel UMC for hosting this event and working with Centennial Memorial UMC in Frederick as a joint effort. We give thanks for all of the volunteers that came from Bethel, Centennial Memorial and other churches, as well as the companies that allowed us to use their equipment and trucks for this project.

*Pastor Mark Claiborne, Sr. serves on Staff at Centennial Memorial UMC in Frederick.