Volunteers prep 5,000 ears of corn during annual Day of Corn - East Idaho News
Blackfoot

Volunteers prep 5,000 ears of corn during annual Day of Corn

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BLACKFOOT – The harvest has begun, and for some that means digging spuds, but for the Community Dinner Table in Blackfoot, harvest means time to prepare for the weekly meals that will begin being served in October.

CDT volunteers prepared 5,000 ears of corn Saturday, for the weekly meals during their annual Day of the Corn. Youth groups from local churches shucked the corn, donated by Richard Johnson, owner of Grove City Gardens. Other volunteers gathered at the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church to blanch, cut and bag the corn to freeze for the winter meals.

Volunteers, like Bruce Evans of Blackfoot, weathered the rain to prepare the corn to be cut and bagged. Evans brought his homemade kettles, made of 50 gallon barrels, to blanch the corn. The kettles can cook three to four dozen ears of corn at once.

“I have been blessed with great equipment,” Evans said. “I think the Lord expects me to use it for somebody’s benefit. So somebody this winter can have a good meal.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY MEALS HERE

After the corn was blanched other volunteer were ready with their power tools and corn cutters.

“The volunteers are so used to doing this, they get right to work,” said Randy Shiosaki, Day of the Corn organizer.

The CDT began nine years ago, when friends and neighbors Ron Thompson and Lee Hammett, wanted to help to feed community members in need. The non-profit group is made up of various churches in Blackfoot who have come together to help feed those in need.

“It’s all about feeding people, and keeping the Lord in front of you.” Hammett said. “It is hard to believe we are entering our tenth year.”

The weekly free meals will run from 5 to 6 p.m. beginning Tuesday, Oct. 24 at the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, 168 South University. Each week a different church will volunteer to prepare and serve.

Day of Corn Bruce Evans1

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