By Dallas Carey
Growing up, a lot of us heard the same thing at the dinner table whenever we complained about broccoli or whatever was on our plate that we didn’t want to eat: “There are hungry kids in China who would love this.” Back then, it felt like just a saying. But now, 30-some years later, we know the truth is a lot closer to home. Hunger isn’t somewhere far away — it can be right here in Marcus, right down the street, or sitting next to our kids at school.
Recently, the Marcus Girl Scouts spent several weeks collecting food for the Marcus Food Pantry. Donation boxes were placed at Jeff’s Foods in Marcus and Remsen, as well as at the Marcus Post Office, and local families gave generously. After a few weeks, the girls gathered everything that was donated and delivered it to the pantry.
During their visit, the girls learned how the pantry operates and who it serves. The pantry receives most of its food through the Food Bank of Siouxland, with deliveries coming on the third Friday of each month. Local cash and check donations help purchase milk and other groceries from Jeff’s Foods, and meat purchases are split between Jeff’s and Jordan’s Meat Market — supporting small businesses and feeding those who need just a little extra. A win-win!
The pantry has also benefited from several grants, including a Farm Credit Services grant for fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk, and a recent award from the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation. The Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast is another important source of support.
But the bigger story of the night was what the girls took away from the experience. One of the Scouts, Willow, shared what she learned after seeing how food is distributed: “We donated food because we care.”
The Marcus troop includes about ten girls, from kindergarten through high school. They meet every other Tuesday evening and take part in local service projects throughout the year, with this food drive being one of them. Their leaders hope efforts like this help the Scouts understand how even small acts can make a difference for people living right here in our community.
For anyone who may need assistance, the Marcus Food Pantry is open Wednesday evenings from 6:00–7:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9:00–10:30 a.m. Donations — food or monetary — are always welcome during those times or by mail at:
Marcus Food Pantry
P.O. Box 267
Marcus, IA 51035
Thank you to anyone who has donated, and thank you to the local Girl Scouts program for teaching our children the importance of helping one another out.