DESTIN — Anticipation filled the air as the semi-trailer’s rear tilted back, preparing to spill its haul onto the parking lot of Grace Lutheran Church.
A single dusty sweet potato popped out.
The laughter and brief applause from those gathered was silenced when a waterfall of sweet potatoes started to flow.
After a beat, the crowd swarmed the ridge of spuds armed with bright red mesh bags.
About 300 volunteers packaged about 80,000 pounds of produce Saturday morning at the 5th Annual Crop Drop.
PHOTOS: View a photo gallery from the event >>
VIDEO: View a video from the event >>
“It’s a community event,” said Tara Hearn, community event coordinator for Thrivent Financial.
Thirty-three local food banks will receive the produce, Hearn said. The organizations feed about 6,000 people.
Thrivent Financial and the Grace Foundation sponsored the event. About 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 15,000 pounds of corn, 15,000 pounds of cucumbers and 10,000 pounds of watermelons were delivered, sorted and packaged.
Local businesses such as Donut Hole, Steak and Shake, Shakes and Ariel Seafoods donated food or equipment.
For Magnolia Allen, the Crop Drop was a great way to give back to the community. She also was able to teach her son, 7-year-old Logan Kelly-Allen, the importance of helping others.
“Making a difference starts with him,” Allen said.
Logan stopped counting how many items they were bagging at about 200, she said.
Dressed in T-shirts proclaiming “The church has left the building,” Tony and Vicki Borden said they try to give back as much as they can, whether they are in Destin or at their other home in Kentucky.
“We call ourselves the ‘dirty feet people;’ we like to get involved in the community,” Vicki said.
