Local Teens enjoy volunteering at Ministries Unlimited 

By Josh Jones

Times Tribune Editor 

[email protected] 

Editor’s Note: A sidebar to this story discussing the various volunteer opportunities at Ministries Unlimited may be found after this story. 

TROY — Volunteering at a young age can be a resume builder and an experience earner, but volunteering at a young age can also instill a sense of community within oneself. 

Ministries Unlimited is a local food pantry serving the Triad School District communities of Troy, St. Jacob and Marine. They are fully supported by donations from the community churches, residents, and local businesses. The pantry is run by volunteers who gladly serve their patrons.

Landry Shine of Troy attends Triad High School and was crowned Junior Miss Madison County on July 30, 2023. She said that she started volunteering with Ministries Unlimited in the fall of 2023. 

“My experience has been volunteering as many hours as I can, going to parades, events and really just anywhere in my county that I can go to,” Shine said. “Some of the work I have done here (Ministries Unlimited) is helping families out by giving them sources of many kinds of foods, personal hygiene products and really anything that is necessary for their family.” 

Cameron Powers of St. Jacob attends Triad High School and has been volunteering with Ministries Unlimited for about a year. 

“I had heard about the opportunity around school and at my church, but I never really took volunteering seriously until I was talking with my parents and I had a lot of free time last summer,” Powers said. “So I thought I might as well just start doing something worthwhile with my time and I am actually really happy that I did that. Everybody was super welcoming.” 

Bridget Ramert of Troy also attends Triad High School. She said that she heard about the volunteer opportunity through the National Honor Society (NHS). 

“I am in NHS and the sponsor mentioned, if you ever want to volunteer here (Ministries Unlimited) they need some people, and I checked it out and started here in the summer,” Ramert said. 

Ramert discussed some of the work she has done.

“I stock shelves, help pack groceries in peoples’ cars. It has been fun, I like helping people and everyone has been nice,” Ramert said. “I am still learning the ropes.”  

Shine said that she helps Ministries Unlimited patrons with shopping as well with the Supporting Triad Community Kids (STiCKs) program. Through the program meals are provided every Friday for students at CA Henning, Silver Creek Elementary, Marine Elementary, St. Jacob Elementary, and Triad Middle School who are at risk of missing meals away from school

“Whenever we can we try to help pack lunches for the kids at our schools,” Shine said. 

Powers said that her volunteer experience as Ministries Unlimited has involved a little bit of everything. 

“Whenever we get big donations we have to sort by date, then by items and stock them so we have an easy place to find them when we are restocking our shopping shelves. I recently learned how to shop with people,” Powers said. “I also have bagged groceries, put the groceries in peoples’ cars, and recently Kathy (Scheller, Ministries Unlimited Director) has had me train on Excel so I can keep some of the customer records. I had no idea how to use Excel before I started working here. I just thought I would come in and helping move some of the heavier things around” 

Shine is also involved with pageants, does dance and plans to volunteer with additional organizations. She said it is important to be kind and involved in one’s community. 

“I have a deep place for it in my heart. For me it means helping out others in the community and really realizing where people come from I think is really important,” Shine said. “Just knowing that not everybody gets to live a happy life, so I always have to remember to take a deep place in your heart and find that passion for others… Volunteering is just a wonderful opportunity, it truly is.” 

Ramert is involved with Leo club, Art club, Aftershock (Christian club), science club and trap shooting. 

“I have always done volunteer work and I just always enjoyed seeing smiles on people’s faces and just helping out in any way you can,” Ramert said. “You never truly understand how much it means to somebody, even if it is just a small thing.” 

Powers is an honor student, runs cross country and track, plays basketball, is the vice president of her class and Future Business Leaders of America and plans on joining Brighter Futures. She explained that she enjoys talking with the children that come in with their families and putting a smile on their faces. 

“My parents have done a really great job of helping me see the good in the world and not necessarily expecting that there would be people in Troy that were having some of those issues where they can’t put food on the table,” Powers said. “Seeing that just makes me a little sad and I am just grateful that Ministries Unlimited has given me the opportunity to be helpful and maybe put a smile on somebody’s face… Hopefully relieving some of the stress that putting food on the table brings to their house.” 

Powers also offered advice to those who are on the fence about volunteering. 

“Kathy is super flexible with me. There are a lot of times I can’t come every week, but she is super open as long as you have open communication. It is so rewarding to give back to people. I think this really changed my perspective on how I see things and seeing all these people devoting their time to this, it is just there is good in the world and it is awesome to be a part of that. I think everyone should volunteer. I think it is a worthwhile pursuit and use of your time.” 

Currently Ministries Unlimited has five teen volunteers as Director Kathy Scheller gave her thoughts.

“They are actually enjoying their interaction with the patrons,” Scheller said. “But I think they all enjoy it because they keep coming back. This is an organization where teens can come and see a different side of their community and they are really enjoying it so it gives them a sense of community as well” 

For more information or to inquire about volunteering people may visit https://www.ministriesunlimited.org/, call (618)505-5053, email [email protected] or visit the “Ministries Unlimited” Facebook page. 

Plenty of opportunities to volunteer at Ministries Unlimited 

By Josh Jones
Times Tribune Editor 

[email protected] 

Editor’s Note: This story is a sidebar to the story “Local Teens enjoy volunteering at Ministries Unlimited” which may be found earlier in this edition of the Times Tribune. 

TROY — While one may think volunteering at Ministries Unlimited is simply unloading donated food and supplies, but Ministries Unlimited actually is in need of a variety of volunteers with various skill sets. 

Ministries Unlimited is a local food pantry serving the Triad School District communities of Troy, St. Jacob and Marine. They are fully supported by donations from the community churches, residents, and local businesses. The pantry is run by volunteers who gladly serve their patrons.

Director of Ministries Unlimited Kathy Scheller said that the process of volunteering at Ministries Unlimited is simple. 

“Usually they either call us or drop by, and we just ask when they are available and what they are capable of doing,” Scheller said. “Because some of our volunteers can’t lift a lot of heavy stuff, so we might have them walking around with the patrons and shopping the shelves or I have got some that I put on computer work.”

Scheller explained that there are many facets to their volunteer work outside of stocking shelves. 

“We are looking, probably later in the year, to get geared up to do a lot of fundraising,” Scheller said. “So coming up with ideas, coordinating fundraising projects, helping us with some of the accounting.”

Those who prefer driving also have opportunities to volunteer. They can either pick up ordered supplies and/or deliver to homebound patrons. 

“We have deliveries for our homebound, we started maybe four to begin with and we are up to 10,” Scheller said. “We could actually use some more drivers, because we have already figured out that 10 is probably our max for delivery. So we may have to start another team on another week.” 

Scheller said that they have also collaborated with local businesses for ideas. 

“There is a lot of outreach we are trying to do,” Scheller said. 

The organization has roughly between 20-25 volunteers, but additional volunteers are always needed. Ministries Unlimited is located at 310 Collinsville Rd in Troy. For more information or to inquire about volunteering people may visit https://www.ministriesunlimited.org/, call (618)505-5053, email [email protected] or visit the “Ministries Unlimited” Facebook page.