Editor's Note:  This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's Voices of Youth Battle Creek program which is supported by the BINDA Foundation, City of Battle Creek, Battle Creek Community Foundation, and the Michigan After School Partnership. This series features stories created by Calhoun County youth in partnership with professional mentors.

MARSHALL, MI — According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 13.5% of households in the United States struggle with food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined as not having access to sufficient food, or food of adequate quality, to meet one’s basic needs.

In Marshall, Michigan, a group of volunteers led by John Seppanen, is working to combat food insecurity in their community. 

Every second Wednesday of the month at the Marshall United Methodist Church, a dozen or so volunteers come together to distribute free fresh food to members of their community who are struggling.

The Free Fresh Food Distribution events take place at 4 p.m. once a month in the parking lot of the Marshall United Methodist Church. The next dates are April 2 and May 7.

Sophie PellVolunteers distributing foodVolunteers come together to provide food to Marshall community members in need. All food is distributed on a first-come first-served basis. There is no cost or financial requirement when it comes to getting food. It is recommended to arrive at the event early. Cars often start lining up in the parking lot around 2 p.m. Once in line, households will be registered with the food bank to confirm Michigan residency.

The whole event only takes about half an hour once the clock hits 4 p.m., the volunteers move cars through quickly and efficiently. They take note of how many families each car is picking up food for prior to the start time so that once a car pulls up to the front of the line they can put the bags or boxes in their car. 

With the help of about a dozen people, the food distribution serves 125 to 150 households each month, says Seppanen. Each household is given a bag of food containing essentials including canned goods, other non-perishables, and occasionally fresh fruits and vegetables depending on the time of year.

Individuals who are not able to attend the distribution in person are still able to benefit. In fact, currently, the distribution delivers to about a dozen households that are not able to or do not have access to transportation.

According to Seppanen, in April it is expected that the food distribution will serve closer to 150 households. The amount of need is increasing in Marshall and the surrounding areas, Seppanen says. Marshall United Methodist Media Director and Fresh Food Distribution volunteer Dennis Gorsline said “It is humbling to see the need in just our little town of Marshall.”

Sophie PellVolunteers loading food into a truckAll of the canned and other shelf-stable food comes in boxes bought from the South Michigan Food Bank for $2 a piece. The funding that allows the purchase of the boxes comes largely from grants, as well as from church fundraisers and individual donations. 

One “Souper Bowl” themed event held by the Marshall United Methodist Church, for instance, raised 400 cans from its members. In the spring and summer months, extra fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in the church community garden.

The pantry is open to the public. To anyone hesitant about attending Marshall’s Free Fresh Food Distribution, Gorsline says “I would encourage them to just show up. This is a judgment-free opportunity to receive fresh food. They don’t need to be a member of our church, or any church. They don’t need to meet any income requirements or qualifications. They simply need to want food.”

Sophie PellFood waiting to be distributedVolunteers are always needed as well. There are many different reasons that someone might want to help out with food distribution. Volunteer Marie McGinnis, who has been helping for around a year explained that she volunteers because in the past she and her family benefited from the food distribution program. Seppanen says “We welcome any group that would like to come and volunteer. We have had Boys and Girl Scouts, individuals that need community service hours, along with local businesses help out.” 

All of the volunteers for the event had a smile on their faces as they served the community, they ranged from young children to adults in their 70s. Marshall United Methodist Pastor and food distribution volunteer Erin Fitzgerald says “There is a role and a place for everybody (who volunteers).” 

For anyone interested, the next Free Fresh Food Distribution will take place on April 4 at 4 p.m., it is recommended that participants start to line up before 3 p.m., more information can be found HERE.