Neighbors pitched in Sunday to help a Walkerton farmer who lost a $70,000 farm-to-school contract and faced thousands of unsellable potatoes.

The farmer had already planted the crops and invested in labor and equipment, but canceled markets and mounting loans left him in financial trouble.

Volunteers helped harvest more than 20,000 pounds of potatoes, which will now go to local food banks, Northwest Indiana Food Council programs, and area restaurants.