If a slip of paper ends up on your door in the near future, it’s not a bill and it’s not a unsigned package. The door hanger is likely from local boy and cub scouts troops who are asking for food and hygiene donations to be redistributed to pantries in time for the holidays.
The drive is scheduled to begin on Nov. 5 when scouts will go door-to-door posting hangers. Scouts will then circle back to those homes on Nov. 12 to collect donations and redistribute the goods to local pantries.
“It’s outstanding,” Lauren Martin, unit commissioner for the Peterborough Boy Scout troop, said about the nationwide food drive. “Not only is it helping serve our community, but the boys participating realize even at 8, 10, and 12 years old that they can personally make a difference in our world.”
Martin said it’s a message that often sticks with the kids long after the drive is over.
“They are growing up knowing that they have a responsibility to do good in our communities,” Martin said.
Life Scout Liam Veverka, who is the organizer of the Antrim Bennington Boy and Cub Scout food drive, said in a news release that the drive closely aligns with the organization’s overall message.
“Part of the Scout Law that we recite in our meetings each week includes ‘A Scout is Kind,’” Veverka said. “Doing the food drive is kind because we are helping people in the community that need help getting food.”
He said the drive is a way that the boy scouts can help the community during the holiday season.
Dawn Hugron, of the Antrim-Bennington Food Pantry, said the need for donations has grown over the years, adding the soft economy is causing new families to rely on the pantry’s services. The Antrim-Bennington Food Pantry helps to feed 125 families in the area, Hugron said in a news release.
The food drive will resupply us during a time when the need is great and the supply is low,” Hugron said. “I appreciate people helping people.”
According to the Boy Scouts of America website, this year’s “Scouting for Food” effort will benefit more than 150 pantries, kitchens and closets across the state.
Non perishable and hygiene items are accepted during the drive, although organizers ask that no glass be included in donation boxes.
Residents who do not receive a door hanger, but wish to participate in the event are asked to drop donations off directly at food pantries, or at a variety of locations, which can be found by contacting the local troop leader.
Boy Scouts from Troop 3877 will be collecting donations of non-perishable food on Saturday November 12, in Greenville, Temple, and New Ipswich, as part of the Boy Scouts of America national good turn, “Scouting for Food”. All food items collected will be donated to local food pantries. Also, the Scout troop will be collecting orders for holiday wreaths, as has been the tradition for several years. Scout Troop 3877, formerly Troop 122 and Troop 42, serves the towns of Greenville and New Ipswich.