([ Portland], [Or], [03/25/04])— The Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America participated in the country's largest door-to-door donation drive Saturday, March 6 th. The Scouts collected over 368,507 pounds of goods that translates to 28,347 bags. Locally, Salem area Scouts collected 72,254 pounds of goods or 5,558 bags. Goodwill/Good Turn Day has been an annual event since 1950, when the Cascade Pacific Council, in cooperation with the East Portland Rotary International Club and Goodwill Industries, spearheaded this unique community service project.

“We thank the Salem community for their generosity,” say Jim Hill, Program Director for the Boy Scouts of America. “This service project helps to instill in youth the value of volunteering, to help others without accepting payment or reward,” he added.

Scouts delivered empty collection bags throughout local neighborhoods throughout the state the week prior to the event. Donors were asked to fill the bags with reusable clothing and household goods and place the filled bags on their front porch for pick-up on Good Turn Day. The bags were taken to 115 different collection points. This project covers 25 counties and mobilizes Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Longview, Washington to Albany, Oregon and from Tillamook to The Dalles, Oregon. This widespread event benefits the community in a variety of ways:

• More than 90 cents of every dollar received from the sale of donated goods goes towards the training and employment of people with disabilities/special needs. That's no small feat considering Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette expects to serve more than 7,000 individuals through its job services programs this year.
• Donations create a win-win situation - donors recycle items they no longer need while receiving a tax deduction. Goodwill Industries turns donations into revenue, Goodwill employees become more self-sufficient, the community wins because Goodwill programs removes people off welfare and turns disabled individuals into productive, taxpaying citizens. The Boy Scouts continue to connect youth with communities and families.

Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.