Scouting For Food Program Kicks Off Jan. 23

Tampa FL

17 January, 2021

4:25 PM

Description

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Members of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America will participate in the national Scouting for Food program, which benefits local food banks. Starting Jan. 23, Scouts will leave 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 will include the pickup dates, said Christopher Perry, the council's Scouting for Food chairman. 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. Perry said in 2020 the council donated almost 35,000 pounds of canned foods and non-perishable items, collected by more than 110 units in the council. Perry said he hopes this year will top that number. "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. Scouting professionals also advised units that this year's drive will be just as critical, but the safety of youth participants and their families remains a paramount concern. Masks are to be worn and social distancing practiced for bag distribution and food collection. This press release was produced by The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council. The views expressed here are the author's own.