Act of spud-toneity: Amarillo charity gives away 50,000 pounds of donated potatoes

Editor's note: The Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle’s Interfaith Hunger Project (IFHP) managed to distribute all of the donated potatoes on Friday. The nonprofit said it had originally planned to give out potatoes at an additional time on Monday, but because of the overwhelming response, the potatoes are all gone.

With a short shelf life, a sudden surplus of donated produce is needing to be distributed this weekend in Amarillo.

The Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle’s Interfaith Hunger Project (IFHP) received a huge donation of potatoes Thursday, May 16, from an anonymous donor.

"And by HUGE, we’re talking the 50,000lb range," the charity said in a news release. "Because there’s no way we can distribute that many potatoes to our clients before they go bad, we are inviting anyone in the public to come and take as many as they can use."

The free distributions will be held Friday, May 17, and Monday, May 20, at the Interfaith Hunger Project, 1900 N. Spring, from 9 a.m. to noon on both days. People are asked to bring their own bags.

The IFHP said it has already donated more than 12,000 pounds to other local nonprofits and still has more than 35,000 pounds remaining.

"So, come and get it," the nonprofit said. "There’s plenty for everyone who wants it."

The Interfaith Hunger Project serves residents 50 years of age and older within the Texas Panhandle, as well as the disabled of any age or financial need.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Panhandle hunger project to give 50,000 lbs of potatoes after donation