PG County AKA Chapter Launches '1908 Potato Harvesting Project'

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MD — A group of Prince George's County women dedicated to service are working to help food insecure families within the county.

The Psi Epsilon Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. this week launched a potato gardening and harvesting project with the goal of making sure no family goes hungry.

The “1908 Potato Harvest Gardening'' project will plant potatoes in an 8 x 8 plot at the Bowie Community Garden Center. The potatoes will be harvested in the fall and later given to families in need. Members of the sorority said they believe the harvesting process will take 75-115 days to complete.

Benita A. Swindell, president of the Psi Epsilon Omega chapter of the sorority said serving the community is the chapter’s biggest priority.

“The purpose of this initiative is to grow and harvest healthy and nutritious potatoes to fight against food insecurity in Prince George’s County.,” Swindell said. “We want to plant and harvest 1,908 potatoes to donate to a local food pantry in September or October (depending on our growing schedule).”

The harvesting project is planting 1,908 potatoes specifically because the sorority was founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The potatoes will be donated to the Elizabeth House, a food pantry in Laurel serving the homeless and working poor.

Psi Epsilon Omega’s “1908 Potato Harvest Gardening” project is one of many programs the chapter has created to serve Laurel, Bowie, and Greenbelt.

“Serving the community is our priority, we strive to meet the most pressing needs of people and families in our service areas of Laurel, Bowie, and Greenbelt,” Swindell said. “Eventually, we hope our potato harvest is going to multiply and feed plenty.”

To learn more about the Psi Epsilon Omega chapter, visit their website for more information.