Love in Action at Otsego County Food Pantry

Executive director Rebecca Brown calls the program “a community hug”

On an early morning in Gaylord, it isn’t unusual to see Rebecca Brown already moving between volunteers, checking lists, and loading boxes into cars. To her, the work of the Otsego County Food Pantry isn’t about food—it’s love in action.

“My parents taught me from childhood that if you had extra, you shared,” Brown says, her voice catching with emotion. “I think of volunteering here as a way to honor them. Love is the answer, and action is an expression of love.”

Brown, now the pantry’s executive director, has been a daily presence at the food pantry for six years. Her roots go back even further, through her church’s involvement. What keeps her going are the stories—the little boy thrilled to cook mac and cheese for his sister, the senior nervously asking for help for the first time.

“Every day is a reminder of how important it is to extend our reach,” she says. “Almost like a community hug.”

Making Sure No One Goes Hungry

If Brown is the heart of the pantry, Frank Rock is its steady hand. Retired from the workforce, Rock decided to “give back” after his career and has been volunteering for 20 of the pantry’s 25-year history. He now serves as treasurer and helps coordinate food rescue and distribution.

“We started in a church basement, broke all the time,” Brown says as he recalls the pantry’s humble beginnings. “If we got a little money, we spent it right away on food. Now we’re serving hundreds of families every week, with support from 13 churches and countless community partners.”

One story has stayed with him all these years: a young girl who was caught hiding cafeteria food in her coat to bring home to share with her family. That heartbreaking moment inspired the pantry’s school backpack program, which now sends 400 food bags home with students every weekend.

“That’s why we’re here,” Rock says. “To make sure no one goes hungry.”

Together, Brown and Rock help lead a pantry that has grown into a lifeline for northern Michigan families. The pantry’s growth has mirrored the challenges the community has faced—tornadoes, ice storms, COVID, and now rising grocery costs. Brown notes that more seniors and working families are seeking help than ever before.

“Almost anyone can find themselves in need,” she says. “A health crisis or unexpected expense can knock a family off balance. That’s why we’re here.”

On the Shelves

The pantry has grown well beyond handing out canned goods. Today, it runs four major programs: weekly drive-up distributions providing two weeks’ worth of groceries, large-scale Saturday truck distributions unloading up to 22,000 pounds of food at a time, a school backpack program supplying children with weekend meals, and even a literacy initiative that sends books and handmade stuffed animals home with children.

The need, however, continues to outpace resources. Protein items such as peanut butter, tuna, and meat remain the most expensive and most requested. Fresh produce is replenished almost daily. Alongside food donations, the pantry distributes household essentials like soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper.

Despite their reach, the pantry operates with no paid staff. More than 350 volunteers pitch in each year, from students and service clubs to local businesses. “We’re 100 percent volunteer, and that does put a strain on us,” Rock admits. “But it’s also what makes this pantry special, people giving their time, energy, and heart.”

For those interested in getting involved, “there’s something for everyone,” Brown says. “Whether you can give one hour a month or five mornings a week, we’ll find a way to include you.”

Even when times are tough, Brown and Rock remain hopeful because they’ve seen what their neighbors can do.

“No one escapes the need to be helped,” Brown reflects, “but everyone can choose to be part of the solution.”

For Rock, the satisfaction is simple. “A community is defined by how it takes care of the people with the least,” he says. “I get a warm feeling just being able to help.”

Feeling the Strain as SNAP Benefits Pause

With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits first delayed and now reduced, food insecurity is growing for more than 1.4 million Michiganders, many of them children and older adults.

The Otsego County Food Pantry has seen a sharp increase in need, with usage up 30 percent the week of Halloween alone. Volunteers packed and distributed 179 orders, providing a two- to three-week food supply to 487 people across the region.

Brown tells us that community support is critical to sustaining these efforts. Donations of funds, food, or volunteer time directly help keep shelves stocked and families fed.

Financial contributions can be mailed to Otsego County Food Pantry, P.O. Box 1976, Gaylord, MI 49734, made online at otsegocountyfoodpantry.org, or dropped off at 116 E. Fifth Street in Gaylord.

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