Can you help the Occoquan District Boy Scouts and Prince William residents in need? The answer is yes, if you participate in the Scouting for Food drive this year.
Each year the area Boy Scout units take part in Scouting for Food, which involves collecting non-perishable food items for hungry individuals in Prince William County.
This year is the 29th annual Scouting for Food Drive, and the Scours are looking to break last year’s record of collecting 45,000 pounds of food. The larger National Capital Area Council has set a goal to collect 1 million pounds of food, according to a release.
Last weekend, Scouts distributed collection bags to area homes and will return in the morning on November 12 to collect the bags with the food donations.
“Capital Area Food Bank and other local food banks will use these items to help with its distribution of 45 million pounds of food – equivalent to 37.5 million meals – to 478,100 people through a network of 500 partner agencies and direct service programs,” stated a release.
“More than thirty million Americans, including six million children, go hungry at some time every month. We cannot help those children be ‘Prepared. For Life.’ if they do not know where breakfast is coming from. Scouting for Food helps these families while teaching our Scouts the value of serving the community,” stated National Capital Area Council CEO and Scout Executive Les Baron in a release.
Items in highest demand include: canned protein (tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter); soups and stews (beef stew, chili, meat-based soups); 100% fruit juices (all sizes); grains (pasta, whole grain pasta, rice, brown rice, boxed macaroni and cheese); cereals (multi-grain, low sugar cereals, oatmeal); canned vegetables; canned fruits; condiments; and hygiene products (diapers, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste).
