Members of Boy Scout Troop 4 who collected food and did spring cleaning chores at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Ann Arbor Saturday were also remembering one of their own, a young man whose life was cut short in a car crash seven years ago.

The yearly Scouting For Food project doubles as a birthday party for Tim Esch, an Eagle Scout with Troop 4 who died when he was 18. His birthday was April 26.

Lisa Carolin | For AnnArbor.com

Members of Boy Scout Troop 4 volunteered to do yard cleanup at the First Methodist Church in Ann Arbor Saturday. They also collected food donations for Food Gatherers in memory of former Scout Tim Esch, who died when he was 18

While Scouts worked in the church yard at Huron and State streets and donations were dropped off, the "Tim Esch Scouting For Food Birthday Party" was under way at the home of Tim's parents, Dave and Jan Esch. The Esch family handed out a cupcake to anyone who dropped off a donation.

The party at their home on Barton Shore Drive started Friday and runs through 5 p.m. Saturday, though donations can continue to be dropped through Monday.

Donations collected at both locations go to Food Gatherers, which works to alleviate hunger in the Ann Arbor area.

"Scouting for Food was a favorite activity of Tim's, although he enjoyed Scouting thoroughly and loved many Scout activities," said Dave Esch. "Tim learned the first year that people are usually quite willing to help if you take the time to actually talk to them about what you're doing."

His parents say that Tim was amazed that anyone in Ann Arbor could actually go hungry.

"Tim led the troop in collecting food," said former Scoutmaster Dixie Edwards. "He was always very positive and someone I could depend on. I miss his mature leadership."

"He was a fun kid always eager to please," said Ron McCready, a former assistant Scoutmaster. "Tim was the most eager Scout with the food drive. He made personal connections, which is why he was so successful. His neighbors still give in his honor."

Last year Troop 4 collected close to five and a half tons of food. Current Scoutmaster Ken Cook said he tried to get the message to make the 60 Scouts in the troop familiar with Tim's involvement with the food drive and the Scouts.

Tim was 14 when he earned his Eagle rank by doing a project at the Hands On Museum in Ann Arbor in which he installed a fluorescent rock display on the second floor and catalogued the museum's mineral collection with some help.

"Tim was quiet, friendly and had a wonderful sense of humor," said Jan Esch. "In middle school he won the "Nice Kid" award, which fit him perfectly. He was always willing to help, and often took time to work with the younger Scouts as they learned their knots and other skills."

His parents said he was very interested in all kinds of cars and knew a great deal about them. He planned to be a mechanic and the PIoneer High School graduate had just started automotive school in 2005 when he died in an automobile accident in Ohio.

"For the first year after Tim died, we were very intentional about every first that came along- our first Christmas without him, first vacation, etc.," said Dave Esch. "Since his birthday was so close to the annual Scouting For Food, it seemed a perfect way to honor him by continuing his efforts."

"Scouting for Food also provided a very helpful way for our friends to honor Tim — to do something positive when there seemed so little they could do to ease our sorrow," said Jan Esch. "It was such an encouraging and successful event that we have continued it every year as a way to remember Tim."

Food donations can be dropped off through the end of April at the Esch's house at 227 Barton Shore Drive. Cash donations can be made directly to Food Gatherers at P.O. Box 7971, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-7971 or online at www.foodgatherers.org. Be sure to indicate that it's part of the Troop 4/Tim Esch Scouting for Food drive.

Lisa Carolin is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. To contact the news desk email news@annarbor.com.