December 17, 2006

Food aid provider marks 25 years of service
By Gwen Mickelson
Sentinel staff writer

When she tallied it up, Annette Marcum found she'd worked more than 42,000 hours during the past 25 years, nearly what a full-time office worker would put in over the same stretch. But Marcum, founder of nonprofit emergency food pantry Valley Churches United Missions, has labored those many hours for free.

On Tuesday, Marcum, 68, of Ben Lomond, was honored for her quarter-century of service at Valley Churches' 25th anniversary event, held at Scopazzi's Restaurant & Lounge.

"Where do you begin?" asked Fifth District Supervisor Mark Stone, when asked to describe Marcum's contribution to the community. Stone, whose district includes the San Lorenzo Valley, was serving as master of ceremonies at the event. "Truly, if there ever was a saint, it's Annette."

Marcum and Valley Churches have received many awards over the years, including a Congressional certificate of recognition.

The event was attended by nearly 200 supporters, including local officials such as Stone, Scotts Valley Mayor Dene Bustichi and Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Jeff Almquist, a former Fifth District supervisor. Members of Marcum's family also flew in from Wisconsin and surprised her, said Marcum.

Valley Churches originated under the name St. Andrews Outreach during the torrential rains that led to the Love Creek slide of 1982, which buried homes, cars and roads, killing 10 people. Marcum coordinated and led relief efforts at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Ben Lomond. During that time, she realized that low-income residents in the valley had many unmet needs.

To date, the mission has raised and distributed $11 million in assistance, serving more than 400 families each month. It provides emergency food, crisis rent, utilities, medical, school supplies and disaster relief with only one paid staff member.

"While we all know it takes many, many people to have an agency such as ours be as successful as it is, it takes a leader, and Marcum has been a relentless, dedicated leader since the beginning," said Linda Lovelace, Valley Churches operations director. "It's like she got the giving gene."

Even the guest of honor at the ceremony couldn't believe she'd volunteered for a quarter century.

"I don't feel that old yet," quipped Marcum, a petite woman with whirlwind energy and voice made smoky with Marlboros.

So how much longer will she continue her life's work?

"I'll go as long as God lets me," she said.

Contact Gwen Mickelson at gmickelson at santacruzsentinel.com.