Scout’s good deeds result in surprise for food pantry

By Greg Ellison

(Dec. 10, 2020) Despite being geographically separated from his allies in Rockville this holiday season, Boy Scout Troop #763 member Christian Martin, 14, opted to launch an Ocean Pines-based food drive last month to echo comparable efforts by his cohorts to help people in need have a brighter Christmas.

Several months ago Martin temporarily relocated to the Wood Duck II neighborhood with his mother, Lybbi, to help his grandmother during the covid-19 pandemic.

“We came down to take care of grandma,” he said.

Much to Christian’s dismay, the time away from home coincided with an annual Boy Scout charity endeavor.

“In November, we have a ‘Scouting for Food’ event,” he said. “We put out flyers a few days ahead and on specific days a few weeks later go out and pick up cans and other goods.”

The collected food items are then donated to the Maryland Food Bank.

“We calculate the pounds of food we’ve collected,” he said.

After contemplating the situation, Martin decided the location was less important than the intent and opted to launch a satellite effort in the Pines.

“We went out and spread flyers in grandmom’s neighborhood,” he said. “Numerous neighbors were generous in lending support.”

Lybbi Martin, who serves as Troop #763 assistant scoutmaster, said her son has steadily risen through the scouting ranks over the past eight years.

“Christian is getting to Eagle,” she said.

At this point Christian Martin has been in scouts more than half his lifespan.

“I’ve been in scouts since kindergarten,” he said.

Mirroring Troop #763’s food drive procedures, Christian and his mother first went about publicizing the endeavor.

“We put a specific date and time on a flyer,” he said. “Parents drive scouts around to retrieve donations and that food goes to families in need.”

Lybbi Martin said the annual collection drive never fails to solicit a smile as youngsters race about gathering food donations door to door.

“It’s pretty cool to see 12-18 young boys running around the neighborhood,” she said. “There’s a lot of sweat equity involved.”

At first uncertain where to direct food donations, the mom and son team quickly found an ideal partner after learning about Sarah’s Pantry, an outreach ministry of the Community Church at Ocean Pines, which also operates the Shepherd’s Nook Thrift Shop and Flea Market.

“When we contacted Sarah’s Pantry, the manager [Marian Bickerstaff] said OK to accepting food,” she said. “We didn’t know what we would have.”

The Community Church’s Sarah’s Pantry and Shepherd’s Nook assists families facing financial challenges, as well as supporting military veterans.

Linda Baker, a volunteer at Sarah’s Pantry, was suitably shocked when the unanticipated load of food was delivered on Nov. 14.

“It was a wonderful surprise,” she said.

Lybbi said when Baker opened the door to accept some bags of food from Christian, she didn’t realize it was only the tip of the iceberg.

“We show up and Christian knocks on the door with a few bags and … the lady said, ‘thank you that’s very sweet,’” she said.

Then Christian asked where he could leave the remaining mounds of canned goods and non-perishable items.

“We backed the car up and the whole back was filled, along with the floorboard and back seat,” she said. “It took three carts to get it in.”

Baker said the Martin’s unloaded hundreds and hundreds pounds of food.

“I don’t think I knew what was coming,” she said. “They just kept bringing more and more bags in.”

Christian Martin said it took multiple shopping cart loads to move the monster haul.

“They were filled top to bottom with stuff falling off,” he said.

The experience helped spur Christian Martin to start lending a helping hand twice a week at Shepherd’s Nook Thrift Shop.

“I also volunteer in the thrift store,” he said.

Baker was impressed with the teenager’s willingness to jump on board after the food drive wrapped up last month.

“Just the fact that he’s not from this area but wanted to participate,” she said. “I’d say they’re both very versatile and flexible about what they volunteer for.”

Christian and Lybbi Martin’s spirit of selfless service has sparked another Pines-based holiday effort during December.

In much the same spirit as the Scouting for Food endeavor last month, during December, Troop #763 sponsors a Christmas toy drive to support “A Wider Circle”  which works with the DC Housing Authority to provide yuletide gifts for more than 10,000 youths living in public housing.

“We volunteer to wrap gifts and help families pick out furniture,” he said.

Lybbi Martin said coronavirus restrictions forced Troop #763 members to place the Wider Circle visit on hold this season, so it launched its “Good Karma” project as a substitute.

“With covid, our troop wasn’t able to work at a Wider Circle so one of our assistant leaders decided to come up with the Good Karma project,” she said,

“We would take toys over to Wider Circle so their clients could still have Christmas and depend on getting gifts.”

Once again, despite their relative distance, the Martin’s are charting the same course with the Community Church at Ocean Pines.

To learn more about donating Christmas gift items for boys and girls in need this holiday, email Lybbi Martin at lybbim@yahoo.com