Volunteers shuck 5,000 ears of corn to support Blackfoot’s Community Dinner Table

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) - Hundreds of volunteers gathered early Saturday morning in Blackfoot for the annual "Day of the Corn," a community effort that helps provide meals to local residents throughout the winter.

At least 250 students arrived at Richard Larson’s cornfield at 6:30 a.m. to shuck 5,000 ears of freshly harvested corn. The corn was then transported to the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church, where volunteers worked through a large assembly line set up in the alley behind the church.

There, the corn was boiled and removed from the cob before being carried upstairs to the church kitchen. A second team of volunteers drained the corn and packed it into freezer bags for storage.

By the end of the morning, organizers expected to have processed about 190 gallons of corn, all of which will be stored in the food pantry freezer.

The corn will help supply the weekly Community Dinner Table throughout the winter months. The free Tuesday night meals are hosted at the Methodist Church and supported by churches across Blackfoot, with congregations taking turns preparing and serving the dinners.

Organizers say the meals are open to everyone, whether they are in need of food or simply looking for fellowship and companionship.

The Community Dinner Table begins Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. and continues every Tuesday throughout the winter.