Members of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America are participating in a national Scouting for Food program to benefit local food banks, according to a news release.
The drive began Jan. 23, when Scouts left empty bags in neighborhoods in the nine counties of the council. They will return to collect the filled bags by Feb. 7.
An instruction sheet inside the bag includes the pickup dates, Christopher Perry, the council’s Scouting for Food chairman, said in the release.
The Scouts will deliver the food to designed food banks, as well as a few unit-sponsoring organizations.
In Hillsborough County, food will go to Abe Brown Ministries, Community Food Bank, Santa Maria Mission and other locations.
The COVID-19 virus crisis has resulted in job losses and increased needs for food distribution, Perry said.
“Families are struggling and the food banks are struggling; they are receiving less in donations,” Perry said, adding the organizers have chosen mainly smaller local pantries to support.
In 2020, the council donated almost 35,000 pounds of canned foods and nonperishable items, collected by more than 110 units in the council, according to Perry, who hopes to exceed that number this year.
“It’s a little different this year as Scouts can pick up on any day that is convenient for their unit instead of one specific collection day, as in the past,” Perry said.
Masks are to be worn and social distancing practiced for both the bag distribution and the food collection.
Published February 03, 2021
