Published: November 12, 2008 09:27 am      

Area Cub Scouts holding food drive

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Boy Scouts of America Okaw Valley Council is once again holding a food drive to collect items for local food pantries in time for the holiday season.

This Saturday, Cub Scouts of the Black Gold District will be placing door hangers on various residences as part of the 2008 annual Scouting for Food, the BSA’s national one-day food drive which raises 15 percent of area food pantries’ yearly supply, according to information from the organization. Scouts will return to those same areas to pick up any donations the following Saturday.

“The whole idea behind this allows Scouts to give to the community in a way to support others who can’t support themselves,” cubmaster Bill McKinley said. “They learn how to step up and help others without thinking of themselves.”

Scouting for Food chairman Lori Granno said acceptable items for donation include non-perishable food and paper products.

“We suggest giving soup, canned vegetables, beef stew, canned fruit, chili, canned meats, cereal or paper towels,” Granno said. “We will not take perishable items, frozen food or food in glass containers.”

Each food pantry interested in receiving food must send a request using its letterhead and provide its tax identification number, according to information from the district.

On Nov. 22, area residents who wish to donate must place items outside their doors in a plastic or paper bag before 9 a.m. Scouts will then collect food and will continue counting and sorting donations at St. Mary’s Parish Center for the Mt. Vernon area. Food donations may also be dropped off at the church at this time.

Representatives from each pantry are asked to help sort food at 10 a.m. on November 22, and food will then be distributed to each pantry. Granno said food collected in Bluford, Dix, Summersville and Woodlawn will go to pantries in their respective areas.

By participating in the food drive, McKinley noted Scouts learn about helping others and progressively become more aware of other ways to benefit area communities.

“The food drive exposes boys to service that will help lead them to a lifetime of giving,” McKinley said.

Food pantries may send requests to Granno at 4108 Willow Springs or BGD senior executive Dennis Bathon at 3201 Blackberry Street. For more information contact Bathon at 242-8505.