Scouting for food

The Boy Scouts of America pledge includes, among other things, that scouts be helpful, courteous, kind and loyal. Through its annual food drive, Cub Scout Pack 466 seeks to display those characteristics and keep their promise to help others.

Pack 466 organizes the food drive to benefit the Coal City Food Pantry. The scouts are calling on area residents to support the effort by purchasing a few extra items at the grocery store this week.

The door-to-door food collection begins Saturday, Nov. 5 when Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops pool their resources to distribute collection bags to doorsteps throughout the villages of Carbon Hill, Coal City and Diamond.

The sacks are used to make contributions of non-perishable food items, paper products, household cleaning supplies and personal care items. All donations must be in sealed, original containers and display current expiration dates.

On Sunday, Nov. 6 donations should be placed in the bags and left on doorsteps by 12:30 p.m. The scouting groups will return to collect the filled bags between 1-4 p.m.

All items collected will be delivered to the pantry, sorted by volunteers and distributed to food pantry patrons.

Individuals who do not receive a bag and would like to make a donation can do so by dropping items off at the food pantry located inside Coal City United Methodist Church, 6805 E. McArdle Rd. A donation box is located outside the south entry door.

Those who would prefer to make a monetary donation can do so by sending it to the Coal City Food Pantry at the above address.

Organizers report the community-wide event has been extremely successful due to the willingness of the community to support the scouts and food pantry’s efforts to provide for area residents.