Tons of Potatoes Donated for Binghamton-Area Residents

Members of the Southern Tier Antique Tractor Club, aided by a few volunteers, have loaded trucks with tons of potatoes for use by area food pantries and organizations that assist the hungry.

Speaking on WNBF Radio’s Binghamton Now program, the club’s Jim Baker said about 16 tons of spuds grown in fields in the town of Union were donated as part of this year’s program.

Baker expressed appreciation to those who responded to calls for volunteers to help load trucks in recent days.

Baker said the club donated 15 tons of potatoes to the Southern Tier Food Bank two years ago. He said the organization distributed all of them to families in need within two weeks.

Baker said that rapid distribution illustrates how great the demand was then. He said the need for food assistance in the region is much greater now than it was in 2010.

The potatoes that have been donated as part of the club’s program are grown in fields along Route 26 in the West Corners area.