Lifting Spirits, Feeding Souls

    As families gather around their Christmas trees and tables this time of year, most will enjoy gifts and sumptuous foods at some point. In the glow of all the festivities, it might be easy to forget those who need a helping hand this time of year. Yet, that does not hold true for Marshall County and the surrounding area. The local Food Pantry and the many who support it will not allow those in need to go without during the holiday season.
    The Marshall County Food Pantry is a local resource that serves those in the county but also communities within the entirety of the Britton-Hecla and Langford Area School Districts. There are no income guidelines and patrons are just asked where they live.
    Last year, the pantry celebrated a quarter century giving a helping hand to persevere through tough times.  The pantry is open Friday and Saturdays and is supplied and funded entirely by donations and local contributions. Marie and Russ Marlow have been the directors of the effort for the last couple of years.
    The Marlows and many others who help them have been particularly busy during the holiday season. They have a big Thanksgiving giveaway, one where Marie said their grocery bill was around $10,000. Just a few weeks later, another big occasion, Christmas, was upon them where they provide not only food but also hundreds of gifts.
    Between this past Friday and Saturday, many individuals and families came in to be served by the food pantry, located at the Marshall County Community Building. They could collect food boxes and at least a couple of toys for each child. Marie added that they also had many gift cards available for the older kids. The sight of tables covered by hundreds of donated gifts, a veritable kids Christmas wonderland, is truly something to behold. Nearly 300 people in 72 families were served.
    Marie emphasized that none of this would be possible without the generosity of the community. “We get donations from people, businesses, and churches, not only in Britton but also Langford, Veblen, Hecla, Eden and beyond,” she said. “There’s not a community that we serve that doesn’t also have donors.”
    One of the local donors is HealthFirst Chiropractic in Britton where Dr. Aaron Micko and his staff gather toys for the pantry each year. “We have been doing the toy drive since 2019,” Micko said. “It’s a great cause and the support is overwhelming.  We even have Sisseton patients sending gifts back with us on Wednesdays!  A toy drive brings the good out of all people and I really think it reminds us all of the excitement of gifts, Christmas and memories of when we were younger.”
    Another special donor is young Tyler Wurst. Tyler is just a third grader at Britton-Hecla but he and his mother Angie Olson understand the importance of giving. They too have been organizing a toy drive for the last few years. “I wanted to teach him that it’s better to give than receive,” said Olson. She even offers a discount on a haircut at her salon with a toy donation. This led to Tyler and his mom delivering dozens of toys to the pantry this year.
    “The support we receive from the community just blows my mind,” said Marie. “Between the donations and the many volunteers who help us monthly and during the busy times, we are so blessed in this area with the generosity of everyone.”
    Marie stressed that this support is appreciated more than ever as she has seen the need for assistance rise even just in the last months. “Groceries are pretty expensive these days, so many people really need the help.”
    She added that they see weekly the appreciation of those they serve as well. “This past weekend during the Christmas giveaway, I got a lot of hugs,” she noted. “People are very grateful.”
    If you are interested in donating to the food pantry, you can contact the Marlows at 605-448-8083 or call the Marshall County Extension Office at 605-448-5171. The pantry is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon but is not open this weekend Dec. 22-23.