Knights of Columbus bag 11,000 pounds of potatoes for Whidbey Island charities

Volunteers on Whidbey Island, Washington, bagged approximately 11,000 pounds of potatoes on Saturday morning. The early morning work was part of the annual potato drive organized by the St. Hubert Knights of Columbus Council.

This marks the 25th year the St. Hubert council has hosted the event. Volunteers pack the produce, which is then loaded into trucks for distribution to local nonprofits. The harvest comes from Maple Wood Farm in Mount Vernon, which donates the potatoes each year. Hanson’s Building Supply handles the transport of the produce to Langley for the bagging effort.

Charlie Childs, the council treasurer and event chair, confirmed the group received the 11,000-pound donation this year. He noted that the event relies on the collective support of Knights members, the St. Hubert parish, and volunteers from other local churches. Childs stated that the need for food donations has become more pressing as the cost of basic necessities rises.

Childs said helping struggling families is a major motivation for the group, especially with Thanksgiving approaching. He noted that while the volunteers do not always see the final recipients, knowing the food goes to families in need is the best part of the process.

The 11,000 pounds of potatoes were distributed to several organizations across the island. Recipients this year included Good Cheer, Ryan’s House for Youth, South Whidbey at Home, and Queen-Bee Pantry. Other groups receiving donations were Whidbey Island Nourishes, Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, and St. Hubert Catholic Church in Langley.

John Joynt, the grand knight of the St. Hubert council, described food as a common denominator that transcends religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic boundaries. He pointed to the diverse list of organizations receiving the donations this year. “We’re all tied together in that regard,” Joynt said. “People feeding people.”