The United Methodist Men of Oscoda UMC partnered with the Society of St. Andrew, an EngageMI Ministry Partner, to distribute 48,000 pounds of russet potatoes to those experiencing food insecurity.
The United Methodist Men (UMM) of Oscoda UMC partnered with the Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) to organize a massive potato drop, distributing 48,000 pounds of russet potatoes to Northeast Michigan. For years, the men’s group has encouraged donations to Bud the Spud, which supports SOSA’s ministry. Read more about Bud the Spud.
SOSA, one of our Michigan Conference EngageMI national partners, gleans potato fields after the primary harvest and gathers excellent quality potatoes, which are distributed by semi-truck load. Learn more about SOSA and their ministry.
Oscoda UMM was assisted by the local hardware store, which provided a forklift and operator to move the potatoes off the truck. Many pallets were reserved and picked up by regional soup kitchens and food pantries. The rest was distributed to individuals in Iosco County.
“We were expecting 40,000 pounds, but the truck came with 48,000,” said Gene Austin, UMM president. “We thought we’d have a lot of potatoes left over, but that was not the case. It was wonderful to put 10-pound bags of excellent potatoes in the hands of people who needed them and into the hands of others who extended the ministry by distributing them to their neighbors.”
“This was our first attempt at this, and we learned a lot. But we think this can be an annual event,” Gene said. “We did hold out three bags to make potato soup to serve at the United Women in Faith rummage sale.”
Food and housing insecurity are high in Iosco County. Oscoda UMC started a two-tier food pantry: an outdoor box accessible 24 hours a day with food staples, plus an indoor pantry staffed by church members open three days a week. The potato drop dovetailed nicely with the existing pantries. The church also offers a shower ministry for people in need and has launched a community effort, Huron Housing Hope, to address the broader needs of people experiencing homelessness.
“There are a lot of people with very basic needs here,” said Pastor Pam Harkema. “The emergency shelter in the county closed in 2022. The limited available housing in the area is very expensive. Oscoda UMC is working on creative solutions for the most vulnerable people in our community. The potato drop enhanced our ability to reach people in need here. God continues to provide.”
Last Updated on October 30, 2025