Boy Scouts Complete 31st Annual Food Drive
270,827 pounds of food collected by Scouts and
Ocean State Job Lot for??Rhode Island Food Bank and other pantries
MASSACHUSETTS ??? The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America held its 31st Annual ???Scouting for Food Good Turn??? drive from October 27 to November 3 across Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut. Thousands of Scouts distributed door hangers to neighbors??? homes seeking donations of nutritional, non-perishable canned goods.
The annual initiative, which is the largest food drive in New England, highlights one of Scouting???s primary focuses ??? doing a ???Good Turn??? daily. 170,827 pounds of food were collected this year by Scouts, with an additional 100,000 pounds matched by Ocean State Job Lot for the Rhode Island Food Bank, the United Way of Greater New Bedford???s Hunger Commission and We Share Hope food Pantry in Warren. In total, 270,827 pounds of food will feed the needy this year.
More than 200 Scouting Packs and Troops from across Southern New England participated in the drive by collecting canned goods from families and individuals.?? Donation pick-ups took place Saturday, November 3 and were delivered to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and other local food pantries.
???This year???s Scouting for Food drive is going to help thousands of families put meals on the table,??? said Joe DeStefano, volunteer coordinator for the food drive since it began in 1987.?? ???The Scouts who participated were committed to making a real difference, and they achieved their goal. In fact, with the help of Ocean State Job Lot, they surpassed their goal with flying colors.???
DeStefano began volunteering for Scouting for Food 31 years ago. Under his leadership, the Scouts have collected more than 9.4 million pounds of food for neighbors in need.
Over the years, the Scouts have collected more than 9.4 million pounds of food for the Food Bank.
???Once again, the Narragansett Council has brought the community together to make a tremendous impact,??? said Andrew Schiff, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.?? ???This food drive is essential to serving the 1 in 8 Rhode Islanders in need of food assistance, especially as we head into colder weather. Thanks to the Scouts and so many generous donors, we are able to feed our neighbors in need.???
???Scouting for Food is an event that our Scouts look forward to each fall.?? We aim to feed more and more people in need throughout Southeastern New England every year, and it???s amazing to see the hard work that these young people put into making that happen,??? said Tim McCandless, Scout Executive/CEO.
???Ocean State Job Lot showed the highest level of generosity with their partnership, and our communities stepped up to help as well. We couldn???t be prouder of this year???s turn out.???
Scouting for Food is a cooperative effort supported by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Ocean State Job Lot, WPRI-12 News, Fox Providence, the Rhode Island National Guard, The Valley Breeze and area fire stations.
???Despite the weekend???s heavy rain, Scouts from the Narragansett Council were thrilled to participate in the food drive,??? said DeStefano. ???Not only was our drive successful, but it also allowed our youth to learn the importance of helping people in need.?? We will continue to offer the chance for everybody to partake in the spirit of generosity.???
If you were not able to participate in the Scouting for Food drive but would like to give, please visit your local food pantry or the RI Community Food Bank located at 200 Niantic Ave., Providence.?? Food can also be dropped off at one of our two Scout Shops:
West Bay Scout Shop at 1276 Bald Hill Rd, Warwick RI
East Bay Scout Shop at 79 Swansea Mall Dr., Swansea MA
About the Narragansett Council:??
The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America???s mission is to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential.??
The Narragansett Council???s??research-backed, youth development programs are for boys??and girls??ages 6 to 20 through??Cub Scouts,??Scouts BSA,??Venturing??and Exploring.??
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The council serves nearly 14,000??youth??in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Pawcatuck, Connecticut.??
People can learn about Scouting programs and find groups near them at www.BeAScout.org. ??For more information, please log on to??www.narragansettbsa.org.