Community Corner

Dexter's G-Force Teens Hold Food Drive for Faith in Action

Dexter United Methodist Church members partner with Busch's to help local families.

While the rest of their classmates enjoyed a day off from school Friday, a dedicated band of high school volunteers from spent the afternoon collecting donations for the local Faith in Action (FIA) food pantry.

Girls for Christ (G-Force), a community service-based teen youth group, held its annual "Fall Color" food drive outside of to help local families in Dexter. Roughly 10 girls held up signs and passed out shopping lists to passers-by as they entered the store.

"This is something we've been doing every year for the past four years," member Libby Guise said. "A lot of people appreciate the fact that we provide a list of items so they know exactly what the pantry needs, and they can pick something up while they are doing their own shopping."

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Every year, the food drive yields several carloads of food — including dry goods and toiletries — as well as cash donations, which are delivered to FIA volunteers for disbursement.

Nancy Paul, director of FIA, said the need for local donations at both the Chelsea and Dexter food pantries has increased exponentially during the past two years.

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"We really need about 2 tons of food every month to adequately help our residents," Paul said. "In September, we had 90 requests for food, and in August, we had 110 requests. In the summer, when kids aren't getting the free lunch program at school, the requests go up. It's a pretty intense need."

Paul said she is always appreciative of teen food drives in the community.

"The youth in Chelsea and Dexter are our real ambassadors," Paul said. "Kids know what it's like to be hungry, and they understand the need. We'll never turn anyone away who wants to help feed others."

Emily Stone, who helped form G-Force, said she enjoys volunteering with the organization and seeing its impact on the community. In addition to the food drive, the girls also provide Easter baskets and Christmas cookies to seniors at the Chelsea Senior Center, valentine cards for shut-ins and various service projects at the church, including a churchwide baby-sitting service for parishioners.

"We're all friends, which makes it fun to help out others in need," Stone said. "It feels good."


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