Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Volunteers loaded about two tons of donated food into people's cars on Saturday during the Farmers to Families Food Giveaway at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

NEW ULM — A free food giveaway at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday showed the need for assistance this year is matched by the generosity of others.

A line of vehicles, stretching from the center of the fairgrounds all the way to Franklin Street, formed early Saturday to collect food from the Farmers to Families food box program.

The donations were sponsored by the Catholic Charities USA, Diocese of New Ulm, Knights of Columbus and the Brown County Fairgrounds.

The food giveaway was scheduled to begin at noon, but cars were lining up as early as 9 a.m. The group began distributing the food early to prevent a traffic jam from forming on Franklin Street.

“It shows there was a big need,” Dr. Gary Neubauer said.

Neubauer is the senior manager with Dairy Technical Services and has helped with other food donations. He said this was the fifth giveaway under the Farmers to Families program and all have been extremely popular.

“What I think is so nice is everyone was grateful,” Neubauer said.

At each, 20 tons of food were given away at each event for a total of 100 tons of food.

This time the food was delivered by a semi from Hammond, Wisconsin. The truck unloaded 931 boxes of food plus 931 gallons of milk. Each box contained: pulled pork, sausage links, hot dogs, liquid eggs, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, apples, oranges, carrots, onions and potatoes.

All of these food supplies were given out within 2-1/2 hours.

The giveaway was extremely orderly. Neubauer said they had more than enough volunteers helping, including 66 Knights of Columbus members and 10 confirmation students among others.

“You feel good helping,” Neubauer said, “It is also Christmas time and after such a terrible year it feels wonderful and you really see the need.’

The volunteers did not stop with helping distribute the food. The Brown County Fairground was holding a drive-by Santa Claus and Grinch event later in the evening. Some of the volunteers helped decorate for this event.

The drive-by Santa Claus and Grinch event would create another long line of cars later in the evening. This line of cars would be double the length of the food donation line.