The potatoes, worth about $40 at grocery stores, came from the Society of St. Andrew's Potato and Produce Project, which collects unmarketable produce from farmers and distributes it to the needy nationwide.
Volunteers from various nonprofit groups and churches helped distribute the bags, which went to residents as well as organizations that provide social services.
Rev. Joseph Scott, who coordinated the effort, came up with the give-away after he volunteered to help with another Society of St. Andrew food giveaway in Atlantic City.
"It worked there and I was pretty sure it would work here," Scott told reporters.