Scouting for Food 2016

Food Drive Kick-off was a Success!

Pack 285 launched it's 2016 Scouting for Food initiative today with a food collection event in Milton.

Several scouts and their parents joined together to collect non-perishable items from neighborhoods in Milton.  This marked the kick-off of our annual Scouting for Food service project.  Unlike in past years the Atlanta Area Council did not supply plastic bags or specific the how's and when's for food collection.  Instead each unit was able to coordinate their food collection activities as it best suited their membership. 

Pack 285 has always had good neighborhood response rates which made going door-to-door on a chilly Saturday morning a worthwhile activity. We encourage all of our scouts to take time this week to ask their neighbors for food donations.  In addition to food, there is always a need for these items:

• tin foil, plastic bags, garbage bags, cupcake liners, Tupperware or tinfoil baking pans
• hair care products including shampoo, conditioner, gel, mousse, and relaxers
• hygiene items including razors, shaving gel, deodorant, lotion, and body wash or soap
• laundry and dish washing products such as bleach, stain fighters, detergent, and dish liquid
• pet food, treats and assorted products
• over the counter first aid and medicines such as band-aids, Neosporin, Tylenol, and more

Typically food banks request that items used together such as peanut butter and jelly or rice and beans be donated together.  So if your family is considering donating pasta sauce, please also donate pasta.  This helps the food bank to balance it's shelves and to ensure that "complete" meals are distributed to clients.

Remember that as Spring approaches, the number of donations in our community tends to drop-off. Many families with school age children are also negatively impacted by the glut of school closures for teacher conferences and planning days as well as holidays.  Families who normally rely on the Federal School Food Program as a source of breakfast and lunch find themselves without options for two out of the day's three meals.  Scouting for Food is timed to help provide local food banks with a necessary boost in donations just as Spring arrives.

It's hard for neighbors to say NO to such active and cheerful children! 

Please bring all donated food to Amana Academy on Saturday, March 5th during the Pinewood Derby.  We will be making the combined delivery to the Food Bank at the North Fulton Community Charities after the racing concludes.

Great job, Scouts! 

Thank you to our siblings and parents for joining in on this worthy cause!