([Portland], [Or], [12/02/03])–The Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America, will conduct the annual Scouting for Food drive on Saturday, December 6. The Scouting for Food drive (also known as Walk and Knock in Washington) is recognized as the last major food drive of the year for Oregon and southwest Washington area emergency food agencies. It is anticipated that 10,000 local Scouts will go door-to-door to collect an estimated 600,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable food for those in need.
Scouts, well known for community service, will kick off the food drive event by serving meals at the Blanchet House of Hospitality (340 NW Glisan St., Portland, OR 97209) to the homeless on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 3, 4, and 5. The dinners will be served from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with more than 1,200 people expected during the three-night effort.
Throughout the day Saturday, Scouts will collect food from local residents, then take donations to nearby drop-sites, from there food items are distributed to Oregon Food Bank's network of emergency food agencies. In some neighborhoods Scouts may drop off a white bag a week prior to Saturday, December 6 to allow more time for residents to fill bags with food donations. However, a Scout may simply show up at your doorstep and request donations on Saturday morning. Items most needed are non-perishable canned and packaged foods such as meat, soups, stews, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, beans, lentils, peanut butter, tuna, and baby food.
“ This food drive is so critical because Oregon remains among the top states in the nation in hunger ,” says Sherry McVey, Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America Marketing Director. “ We count on the generosity of Oregonians to donate food, we count on the Scouts to collect it, and the Oregon Food Bank to dispense it to those in need,” she adds. “The project is a collaborative effort that is challenging and demanding but most of all rewarding .”
Community service was a primary tenet on which the Boy Scouts of America was founded 92 years ago, and it remains a primary focus today. Scouting's early founders began this tradition with the establishment of the Scout slogan, encouraging Scouts to “Do a Good Turn Daily.”
Forty percent of Oregonians receiving emergency food boxes are children 17 years old and under. The Oregon Food Bank's network of 338 food pantries distributed emergency food boxes to an estimated 780,000 people last year.
“ The fact that over 500,000 pounds of food is collected each year for this event is a strong testament to the giving nature of Oregonians ,” said Cascade Pacific Council Scout Executive, Ron Garland. “This event allows us to teach Scouts the valuable lesson of community service in a unique way,” he adds.
*Scouting for Food sponsors include: Boy Scouts of America, Colamette Construction, Fred Meyer, and Oregon Food Bank.
Interview and photo/video opportunities
Live Broadcasts and weather forecasts welcome
Dinner - Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 3, 4, and 5
• Interviews and photograph opportunities with local Scouts, Scout leaders, event organizers will be granted as feasible at the dinner between 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Reporters/videographers are encouraged to call and make an appointment.
Scouts canvassing neighborhoods -Saturday, December 6
• Interviews with local Scouts, Scout leaders will be granted as feasible in a requested neighborhood. Media representatives may follow Scouts door to door. Simply call to request what neighborhood you would like to cover no later than Wednesday, December 3 .
To set up an appointment, contact Sherry McVey, Cascade Pacific Council, at 503-225-5704 or smcvey@cpcbsa.org
Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.
