Scouts of the Arrowmoon District within the Sam Houston Area Council will go to neighborhoods across Huntsville and the Brazos Valley to collect canned food items and donations for charities through Scouting for Food, in conjunction with Souper Bowl of Caring.
In 2020, over 500 scouts collected over 12,000 pounds and additional cash contributions to donate to the Brazos Valley Food Bank and other local charities. Hundreds of Scouts, their leaders, and families visited local homes on Saturday, January 30 — where they informed residents of the most-needed items by area food pantries — and returned Saturday, February 6 to pick up donations.
Scouting for Food is the leading service program for Boy Scouts of America and is a part of the national BSA program: Good Turn for America. Since 1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring and Scouting for Food has collected over $163 million with 100% providing hunger relief in local communities.
“Scouting for Food is an important service project for the boys and girls involved in Scouts BSA,” says Chris Scotti, Arrowmoon assistant district commissioner. “It teaches our youth about the importance of community service and provides a tangible benefit to those in need. We hope others will join us in supporting this program!”
“Our hope is that, despite the collective crisis we’re facing, Scouting for Food will bring people together in spirit and support while still staying safe and practicing physical distancing,” says Tracey Calanog, Arrowmoon district coordinator. “Now more than ever, our communities need to come together to raise awareness and let people know they are not alone, and their community supports one another.”
Due to COVID-19, new safety protocols have been enhanced, where scouts will collect donations completely contactless. Supporters should leave their non-perishable food or monetary donations at their front door, where scouts will then pick them up and deliver them to the local food bank. While scouting units make every attempt to collect all donations, there is always a possibility some will be missed. In the event a donation is not picked up by a Scout, local HEB and Kroger grocery stores have designated areas for those donations.
More information is available at samhoustonbsa.org/scouting-for-food or by emailing arrowmoonsff@gmail.com.
Courtesy of The Arrowmoon District
