The annual Scouting for Food Drive led by the Three Rivers Council Boy Scouts of America for the benefit of the Southeast Texas Food Bank is about to begin.
Scouts from the Three Rivers Council will be hanging bags on residents’ doors in Southeast Texas on Saturday, February 8. They will return to pick them up on Saturday, February 15.
Scouting for Food is an annual food collection drive held all over the nation by the Boy Scouts of America. Locally, it is a joint effort, with donated food accepted by and distributed through the Southeast Texas Food Bank once it has been collected by Scouts. The collection bags distributed to homes are sponsored by GHX, Inc., which has faithfully supported the drive in this way all six years it has been held in Southeast Texas.
The drive is another reminder to our local communities that Scouts are present in Southeast Texas, doing important community service activities. Last year, Three Rivers Council collected more than 5,000 pounds of food for the hungry.
“To receive this support for our services through the Scouting community is another affirmation that the issue of hunger resonates with Southeast Texans,” said Dan Maher, President/CEO of the Southeast Texas Food Bank. “It takes widespread community engagement to tackle an issue that affects more than 20 percent of our community, so we are grateful for the Scouts’ annual engagement with hunger relief through this drive.”
If residents would like to participate, they can fill the bags left at their homes with store-bought, non-perishable items, including canned or boxed goods, and place them on their door step for pickup on Saturday morning, February 15. Those who may not receive bags at their homes but still wish to contribute can contact the Food Bank’s Food Drive Coordinator Tamara Jarrell by calling 409-839-8777 extension 116.
“The Southeast Texas Food Bank’s mission of helping the underserved aligns with Scout Law. Particularly, that a Scout is to be helpful. A Scout cares about other people and willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward in return,” said Three Rivers Council District Executive Kevin King.
