Scouting for Food bag drop is this Saturday

Please fill bag for pick-up of food Nov. 7

As temperatures drop and the economy continues to struggle, local Boy Scouts will be working to usher in a spirit of giving with their annual food drive.

Thousands of Boy Scouts will be on the move throughout Rhode Island this Saturday, Oct. 31, to deliver plastic bags for the collection of non-perishable food that will be picked up for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank the following Saturday, Nov. 7.

"The Boy Scouts of America always strive to do good works for others, but this is a special annual event that asks individuals in the greater community to do their part and give what they can," said Joe DeStefano, Boy Scout volunteer coordinator for the drive. "The food drive helps Boy Scouts learn first-hand about helping people in need, and offers the chance for everybody to partake in the spirit of generosity."

More than 200 different Scouting packs and troops will deliver bags Saturday to neighborhoods throughout Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut. On the following Saturday, Nov. 7, Scouts will return to collect food items, starting at 9 a.m.

Last year's food drive generated a total of 300,000 pounds of food, with 210,000 pounds being directly received by the food bank - up 20 percent from the 173,000 received the previous year.

The Food Bank is hoping for a successful collection during a year in which the Scouts' efforts may be more critical than ever before. "Across the state, thousands of Rhode Islanders are struggling to put food on the table for their families," commented Andrew Schiff, chief executive officer of the R.I. Community Food Bank. "Scouting for Food is the largest annual food collection effort in our state. For more than 20 years, the hard work and dedication of everyone involved has inspired the community's generosity," continued Schiff. "We are optimistic that the community will respond to the needs of their neighbors and give generously."

Donors are encouraged to fill their bags with the Food Bank's most needed items:

* Protein: Canned soup, tuna, meats, peanut butter, nuts;

* Canned fruits and vegetables including juices and dried fruit and tomato sauce;

* Carbohydrates: Nutritious breakfast cereals, whole wheat pasta and rice;

* Crackers, granola bars and cheese and cracker packages;

* Canned or dried beans.

Scouting for Food, the largest food drive in New England, is a cooperative effort supported by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Walgreen's, WPRI-12 News, Fox Providence, the Rhode Island National Guard, The Valley Breeze, WCTK Cat Country 98.1 and area fire stations.

If the Boy Scouts are not able to cover your neighborhood, please visit your local Walgreen's store to drop off your donation between now and Nov. 16.

For more information about the Food Bank, please visit www.rifoodbank.org.

The Boy Scouts of America's mission is to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways, prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The Narragansett Council offers a program for boys and young men ages 6 to 21 and young women ages 14 to 21. Scouting programs stress value based action-oriented activities that challenge young people to learn and grow. The council serves more than 20,000 young people from Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Venturers, Explorers and Learning for Life participants. For more information, log on to www.narragansettbsa.org.