Groundswell: All Hail the Potato Rescuers!

It’s the end of April, and while some states are loosening physical distancing restrictions, others are doubling down through the end of May. One thing hasn’t changed: communities, organizations, and individuals are stepping up to help each other weather the social and economic challenges of this pandemic. In this week’s Groundswell, we’re highlighting partnerships across sectors providing relief and mutual aid.

Several distilleries in Illinois have quickly turned around their operations to produce much-needed hand sanitizer. Kennay Farms Distillery near Rochelle, Illinois flipped their internal systems to begin making hand sanitizers, which it has donated to local hospitals and first responders. Meanwhile, Stumpy’s in southern Illinois has partnered with the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to create one-of-a-kind hand sanitizers for local fire departments. The university donated ethanol for the creation of the hand sanitizer, replacing the corn normally grown on the Stumpy’s family farm.

In Stockton, California, the mayor’s office, chef Alice Waters, AmeriCorps, and DoorDash have partnered to create “Nourish Stockton,” which aims to help feed Stockton’s seniors. The project identified all of the community’s seniors, then called and texted them to check on their needs. Alice Waters’s Edible Schoolyard project, which usually sends its produce to schools, is now directing those resources to seniors (who can receive up to six pounds of produce each month, delivered by DoorDash) as well as to food banks and other community hubs feeding people in need. The program recently attracted attention from the California Health and Human Services office, which will be incorporating learnings from Stockton in preparation for the launch of a similar statewide program.

Elsewhere, Molly Page and the Blaine County COVID mutual support group in Idaho organized volunteers to rescue potatoes from farms that were dumping excess product. Volunteers rescued seven truckloads, redistributing them to residents in Hailey and Ketchum. Similarly, Idaho farmer Ryan Cranney piled millions of potatoes outside his farm for residents to claim for free. Thousands showed up.

Back east in Charleston, West Virginia, Mayor Amy Goodwin is putting an innovative, if analog, spin on keeping in touch with the city’s 50,000 residents. The mayor and her office will be calling residents in West Virginia’s capital city to see if they have questions or concerns related to COVID-19. The campaign—an extension of an initiative called Connect Charleston—is a pivot from “Charleston Walks,” a face-to-face neighborhood engagement strategy announced in Goodwin’s State of the City address.

Finally, the first weekend of May typically kicks off Indianapolis’ biggest event: the month-long 500 Festival. With the Indianapolis 500, the largest single-day sporting event in the world, postponed to August, festival events are going virtual—and that includes the Mini-Marathon, the largest half-marathon in the United States. As runners across the city and country log their miles, post pictures, and keep each other accountable online, the 500 Festival’s sponsors, partners, and volunteers show are also keeping active: They’re organizing coloring contests celebrating frontline workers, #SpiritWeek social media campaigns, and 500-themed fundraisers for COVID-related aid.

As states begin charting their own paths after this first month of shelter-in-place regulations, we would love to hear more about how communities are responding. Please email passen@newamerica.org with any stories you’d like to share—we’ll feature them in a future installment of Groundswell.