Lifting for hunger: Bench-press champ raises awareness for the homeless
By KAREN PLANT for the Missoulian
Lifting the combined weight of a young couple and their two children seems impossible to most people.
But not to J.D. Scott.
At 5-foot-9 and 298 pounds, Scott can lift an entire family - and then some. On July 12, the 47-year-old bench-pressed 465 pounds in the raw, meaning he used no support belt, compression shirt or wrist wraps.
He was competing at the Monster Muscle Summer Record Breakers meet in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The lift was a personal best for Scott, and a Montana record.
Scott is hoping to compete in a national competition in Phoenix in November, and a professional contest in Oklahoma next April, with a goal of lifting more than 500 pounds.
With his trainer and spotter Mike Casey looming over him, weightlifter J.D. Scott bench-presses 385 pounds in three sets of five repetitions during his workout Monday afternoon at the Bullet Gym in Missoula. Scott uses weightlifting to lift awareness of the homeless, via his “Lifting the Weight of Hunger” campaign. Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
But he wants to lift more than amazing amounts of weight. The former police officer, now a personal trainer, is seeking to elevate the needs of the homeless as an unofficial spokesperson for the Missoula 3:16 Rescue Mission.
Missoula 3:16, a nonprofit Christian organization, has provided meals, clothing, blankets and comfort to the homeless since 1999. It runs two programs, a day center on Toole Avenue and a residence off Mullan Road that accommodates up to nine men.
Many of the people served struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Some have health issues.
“It is really hard for them to find work. Even the ones that find work are paid minimum wage - not enough to rent a place, pay utilities and have a car,” operations director Tim Blodgett said. “There are still homeless people that are working full time.”
The number of homeless in Missoula County has grown 63 percent over the past year, from 553 in 2007 to 906 in 2008, according to the 2008 Montana Homeless Survey.
Scott said he's always had a love for weightlifting, but admits he didn't acquire a heart for the homeless until after serving many years as a police officer and bodyguard.
As a police officer in Missoula, Denver and New Mexico, Scott worked with the homeless on a daily basis, dealing with the nuisance of panhandling, citizens' complaints, and crimes related to substance abuse and mental health problems.
In 1994, he came across a young couple with two girls living in their car in Farmington, N.M.
“These were just good, hard-working people. There were no substance abuse problems, no mental health issues. It was just that they had fallen on hard times,” Scott said. “The next thing you know they were living in their car.”
And again, in the late '90s, while providing protection to a dignitary on visits to the United Nations in New York City, Scott was shaken to see a panhandling homeless war veteran who had lost a leg in Vietnam.
“It hit me like a rock,” Scott said. “I am a veteran, and I don't know how it is possible for anybody in our country to have lost a leg in service to their country and to be homeless.”
And his concern deepened.
“Luckily, in Missoula, we have some very good organizations that will take care of people,” he said.
So now Scott raises support and awareness of local groups that help the homeless. And he uses the weight bench as a platform for his “Lifting the Weight of Hunger” campaign.
For the past three years, prior to the Monster Muscle meet, Scott has sought support for Missoula 3:16 at the Missoula Alliance Church. He hopes to talk to more churches and groups about the needs of the homeless and hungry leading up to the annual Idaho meet in upcoming years.
The timing of the Monster Muscle event is a good reminder to Missoulians that needs are especially high through the lull in summertime giving. And with the downturn in the economy, more people will likely find themselves in need, Scott said.
Through his efforts, Scott has raised several thousand dollars for Missoula 3:16, executive director Pam Herbst said.
“He is an example of what a person can do with whatever talent or gifts they have,” Herbst said. “One person can make a difference.”
In the meantime, Scott will keep on lifting. He trains at Bullet Gym on Spruce Street. The gym is nothing fancy, but the place helps him focus, he said, seemingly unaware of the low rumble of a passing train and piercing blast of its whistle.
“I am built for lifting,” he said. “I am not long-armed or gangly. I am short and have tremendous tricep strength. I just have a lot of pushing power. That's a God-given gift.”
That gift combined with hard work equals success for Scott.
“I have put myself in the position of being one of the top benchers in the country,” he said.
Scott works out about six hours a week. He tries to compete three times a year in gear-free, drug-tested competitions. He chooses those guidelines based on his desire to know it is his hard work, not artificial enhancement, that's doing the lifting.
“If you choose to use drugs, if you choose to use gear, I don't have a problem with you,” he said. “I just don't want to compete against you. It's not a level playing field.”
Scott's goals are simple.
“I want to be the best Master 308 (the maximum he can weigh to compete in the division) bencher in the U.S. or world.”
And as far as helping the homeless, Scott is already a winner, Herbst said.
“He is taking it to the next level by using his talents and weightlifting to raise awareness of the needy in Missoula.”
Karen Plant is a copy desk intern at the Missoulian.
