Union County Water crews respond to calls for service every day of the year. But there's one special call they receive every fall that they look forward to with extra anticipation. That's when Pastor Matt Smith of Faith United Methodist Church calls for help with a hunger relief effort. 

It started a few years ago, when Pastor Smith realized he could accept a donation of 40,000 pounds of free potatoes from an agricultural distributor if he had some help unloading them from the truck.

That's where Union County Water stepped in. Pastor Smith called on Union County Water a few years ago to help with this effort, and it has become an annual tradition our crews look forward to. It just takes about an hour of their time to lower the pallets to the ground, and then Pastor Smith and his volunteers get to work bagging the potatoes for more than 30 hunger relief organizations, which distribute them to local residents who need them.

The effort demonstrates the power of teamwork and community spirit, proving that when people come together—with heavy equipment, helping hands, and a shared goal—they can make a big difference for our community.

UC Cares

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, or if you are able to help meet the needs of others this holiday season, please visit UC Cares - a resource of Union County Government. This webpage lists local agencies where you can give or get help.