‘Need & heed’: Adults, teens, children volunteer at food pantry

(Left) Jaxon Marlowe passing out bags at the self-serve tables; (center)  Brody Vosburg preparing for competition at the fair; (right) Cole Marlowe demonstrating how a free toy works.



(Left) Eduardo Cabrera is waiting to carry the next order; (left) Scotts United Methodist Church Food Pantry.


By Jo Ramsdell

During these times, we see many families struggling to make ends meet.  Their need we must heed, and that is why the Scotts United Methodist Church Food Pantry was established back in 2021, located at 8458 Wallene, Scotts, Michigan. But in turn, the church also has a need; a need for additional help to keep its pantry shelves and freezers filled.  They say it takes a village, but our pantry is blessed with far more. We have two villages, Scotts and Climax, plus many individuals, including those from other communities, and even other states.  

Not only adults, but we also have children and teens, who volunteer.  To name a few, Jaxon Marlowe, a 11-year-old, spent his own allowance in order to donate food; and he and his younger brother Cole worked a Saturday as well.  Eduardo Cabrera, age 14 and a 9th grade student at Climax-Scotts, has worked many consecutive pantries, carrying food boxes to cars, and also acting as an interpreter for other Hispanic families.  

Then there is 14-year-old, Brody Vosburg, a 4-H member and also a Climax-Scotts 9th grade student. He spent countless hours raising and caring for his hog that he eventually entered in the Kalamazoo County Fair competition.  All his hard efforts were directed toward winning a ribbon, but truth be known, he had another focus, one of giving rather than receiving.

Prior to the fair, he had decided that at its conclusion he would donate his hog to the food pantry.  However, there is so much more to this story than meets the eye.  There were several behind the scene contributions that made it possible for Brody to fulfill his gracious offer.  

Again, the chain of “need and heed” continued, hand in hand.  

It costs money to raise a hog and Brody’s need was met with sponsorships from several local businesses: Kubota Kings of Jackson, Kristin Wykoski State Farm Agency, Dr. Pete at Dickman Road Vet, Larry and Georgie Juday, Roger and Diane Catt and the Climax United Methodist Church’s United Women of Faith (UWF).  

Their selfless donations not only covered the costs of the pig, but allowed Brody to put some money away in his college fund.

Following the fair, the hog was transported to Pease Packing, also a frequent doner to the food pantry. There it was butchered and packaged into the largest quantity of pork cuts in order to serve the greatest number of people.

Next, the Climax United Methodist Church UWF stepped up to the plate, once again.  The ladies took another vote and decided to cover the processing fee, before the five large boxes of pork were delivered to their final destination.  

Yes, it’s obvious, we all need help some time, and we all have a need to help, the other times.   

Can you see a pattern here?  Yup, me too!  (Tee-hee!)

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