A community food drive hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Saturday collected over 1,000 pounds of food and household items for the Island Food Pantry, Ag Society trustee Kristy Rose confirmed Monday.

The spring food drive — the first of its kind — was held at the Agricultural Society on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m..

The drive was staffed by a group of 15 volunteers with help from Ag Society vice president Julie Scott. Ms. Scott, who leads the farming operation at Slough Farm in Edgartown, also donated 12 dozen eggs from her farm to the effort.

Reached by phone Monday, Ms. Rose called the drive a success.

“The community really came out,” said Ms. Rose. “We didn’t know if we were going to be able to meet our goal, but we definitely did.”

On Saturday, a steady stream of Islanders rolled into the Ag Hall circle throughout the afternoon, bearing crates of non-perishables — from crackers and soups to specialty children’s food and gluten-free items. Other non non-food related items, including bundles of kitchen supplies, paper towels and diapers, were also among Saturday’s donations, Ms. Rose said.

All donations were collected in a large hay wagon, donated to the nonprofit for the occasion by honorary board member Bob Hungerford, said Ms. Rose. An antique tractor to pull the wagon — lent by society member Brian Bristol — completed the pastoral picture.

Ms. Rose said at the close of the event Saturday evening, the wagon was filled to its brim and nearly overflowing.

“We wanted to fill the wagon and it was heaping,” she said, noting the two large truck beds and minivan required to transport the donations to the pantry on Monday.

Saturday’s food drive was organized by the Ag Society as a pandemic alternative to its annual spring potluck — a large community meal hosted by the organization each year, said Ms. Rose. This season, as Covid restrictions continue to limit large gatherings, the society hatched a plan for a springtime food drive to fill its place.

“We were trying to figure out a different way that we could feed our community,” said Ms. Rose, who cited high rates of food insecurity on the Island and across the country since the pandemic began. “Springtime is particularly tough for Islanders in general [and] this year especially . . . there’s a great need on this island to help out our neighbors who . . . are having a hard time paying their bills and putting food on the table.”

In addition to the drive, Ms. Rose said the society plans to buy produce from local farmers to donate to the food pantry throughout the growing season this year. With such success, she also said the society would likely continue the food drive in the years to come.

“I’m so thankful to the community for coming out and filling our wagon,” said Ms. Rose, reflecting on the day’s success. “We really had a good time and we’re really happy that we were able to help our community and our neighbors.”