The Dartmouth YMCA’s Sharing the Harvest Community Farm is in need of volunteers to rake in this year’s harvest and ensure the farm’s five acres of produce end up on the plates of people in need.

In a typical July, the YMCA's nonprofit farm attracts 722 visits and generates 2,000 community service hours as volunteers assist in the summer harvest season. This year, owing to a reduction in volunteer staff provided to the YMCA’s nonprofit farm by service organizations, July visits fell to 341 and under 1,000 service hours were reported.

It's put a strain on the hard-working staff and community volunteers who were able to attend. Now, in the remaining weeks of the farm’s busiest harvest season, Farm Director Dan King hopes to get back on schedule.

“We’ve seen a tremendous turnout from our regular volunteers and people in the community,” King said. “People know there’s a lot to be done.”

The YMCA has expanded its “drop-in” farm volunteering hours. Individuals or groups of volunteers can drop by the farm from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. to help out, although groups larger than 10 are asked to call ahead.

“Most people don’t need to sign up in advance and there’s plenty of work to do,” King said.

The farm has tons of produce sitting ready to harvest. Volunteer Coordinator Seth Thomas said volunteers can assist by picking out in the fields, weeding, sorting and processing, and more. It's also a great way to meet new people.

“It’s the community,” Thomas said. “It’s so cool to come out here and meet different kinds of people.”

So far this season, 30,000 pounds of fresh produce have already been picked and sorted for distribution. Last year, the farm donated more than 90,000 pounds of fresh produce to emergency food shelters and community organizations from Fall River to Wareham with the help of the United Way of Greater New Bedford. Fresh fruits and veggies are also brought to the Dartmouth Council on Aging to bring farm fresh food to Dartmouth seniors.

The farm produces squash, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, scallions, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, and onions.

Even in the rain, about 20 volunteers turned out to help on August 13. Ryan Ashe, visiting his aunt in Westport for the summer, decided to stop by with his family. Susan Ouellette showed up a bit unprepared for the weather in flip-flops, so she manned a sorting station instead.

“I have a garden at my home so I’ve been learning a lot of from Dan,” she said.

For more information about the farm and volunteering, visit ymcasouthcoast.org.