Tiny Troop, Big Heart
Local Boy Scouts Rally to Feed the Hungry This Thanksgiving
Lisa Patrick
The Ashland Beacon
Local Boy Scouts have once again made a difference in the lives of struggling families this Thanksgiving season by participating in the Scouting for Food service project. This annual service project, which has supported food pantries since 1988, encourages the community to donate by simply leaving food on their front porches.
The Scouting for Food service project began in 1985 as a local service project by a single Boy Scout in the St. Louis area. Three years later, the Boy Scouts of America adopted it as a nationwide program. Scouts distribute bags to homes in neighborhoods around their sponsoring churches. These bags explain the program and inform residents that Scouts will return on Saturday morning to collect any food donations left on their doorsteps.
This year, Troop 1100, a small but mighty group with only four Boy Scouts, faced a slight delay in distributing their bags due to other service projects happening at the same time. However, the boys managed to drop off the bags on the evening of Monday, Nov. 4, in the neighborhoods along Holt Street, Hackworth Street, and Hampton Avenue, on both sides of 29th Street.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, Troop 1100 gathered at their sponsoring church, Second Freewill Baptist Church, on 29th Street to begin collecting the food. As they drove through the neighborhoods, parent leader Jazz Holbrook and Scouts Blake Patrick and Jazz Holbrook eagerly scanned for bags. When they spotted one, they cheered, “There’s one!” One family even donated six bags, each containing a full Thanksgiving meal, complete with a canned turkey. The excitement and sense of community were palpable as the boys realized how much impact their efforts were having.
This is one of the boys’ favorite service projects of the year. They also enjoy volunteering at the annual Elks dinner for veterans and placing flags on veterans' graves the Saturday before Memorial Day. These experiences are important to the scouts, as they teach the value of service and the rewards of giving back to their community.
After collecting the bags, the boys delivered the food to Hillcrest-Bruce Mission, where they met with Director Mike Maynard. The Mission uses the food to prepare Thanksgiving boxes for families in need. This year, Hillcrest-Bruce Mission will distribute more than 300 food baskets for Thanksgiving. Maynard expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m so glad you all do this because most people wouldn’t think about it. People may intend to donate but just don’t have the time. Scouting for Food makes it easy for people to give, without ever leaving their homes.”
Troop 1100 was able to collect approximately 250 food items, enough to fill one grocery cart and almost half of another. Maynard noted that the donations always come at a perfect time, allowing the Mission to sort and prepare the food before assembling the Thanksgiving boxes. This timely donation helps ensure that those in need have a proper meal to share with their families on Thanksgiving Day, and it reflects the true spirit of the season.
Comments