Scouting For Food
A Scout is Helpful. 
Scouting for Food. Does your unit participate? How does it work?
Every November Scouts participate in the good turn initiative, Scouting for Food. This month-long food drive benefits local food banks across our territory during a time when families need it the most: the holidays.
The idea is that over the course of the month, Scouts distribute notes to let their neighbors know about the drive. Then Scouts return a week or two later to pick canned goods, cereal, pasta, and other nonperishable items.
Donations collected by your unit can be delivered to the pantry or food bank of your choice. Please remember to report your results and service hours online.
Committing to Scouting for Food
Resources including letters and social media images can be found below. Please click on the button below to commit to participate in 2023.
Patches must be ordered and paid for by Friday, December 8th, 2023. This will allow us to have patches to distribute at January Roundtables. Patches will be $2 and if you would like them mailed, there will be a flat fee of $5 for mailing.
Reporting your Totals
Don’t forget to keep a total of items collected and service hours completed during the drive. Please report all numbers by Friday, December 8th, 2023 by using the link below.
Please don’t forget to enter the total weight in pounds of the food your unit collected, or the total number of items collected, AFTER the completion of the food drive via IA 2.0 (found in My.Scouting). You can find detailed instructions for entering your totals HERE.
For more information on the food drive, please contact Nathan White.
Resources for Units
Customizable door note and poster, a Facebook cover photo, and a social media image.
Click on the links below to download:
Tips and timeline for participating in Scouting for Food:
October:
- Determine how many Scouts will participate and how many adults will be available to drive when picking up food.
- Determine how your unit will participate (there are multiple ways possible).
- Fill out the commitment form here.
- Contact your local food bank or pantry to let them know you will be collecting for them and to expect delivery around Friday, November 17th 2023.
November:
- Collect as many non-perishable food items as possible AND keep a running total of items collected and service hours completed.
December:
- Report your results on My.Scouting.org, instructions can be found HERE – By Friday, December 8th, 2023.
- Order your patches through the original commit to participate form – By Friday, December 8th, 2023.
January:
- Celebrate your success and thank all your Scouts and parents for participating.
- Receive your patches at January Roundtable, Coronavirus permitting.
Ways to Collect Food
- Going door to door and dropping off a letter one weekend and returning the next weekend to collect the donations left on the doorstep.
- Collect donations at your church, school, community center or area businesses. Make an announcement one weekend and then collect the canned goods the next weekend.
Have other best practices? Please share with Nathan White.