Scouting For Food
2020 Unit Leader GuideGenerously supported by:
On Saturday, Nov. 14, thousands of Scouts will deliver more than 1 million blue Scouting for Food bags throughout the St. Louis metro area, southeast Missouri, and southern Illinois. They will return one week later on Nov. 21 to collect the bags full of donated canned goods.
By giving to Scouting For Food, residents are helping those in need right in their own community. With the help of Sunset Transportation, food donations in the St. Louis area are delivered to the St. Louis Area Foodbank for further distribution to over 500 hunger-relief programs and local agencies in the bi-state area. In southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, Scouts take donations directly to local food pantries.
When it comes to donations, canned fruits, vegetables, soups, tuna, chicken, and pasta sauce, and meals in a box, such as hamburger helper, are most needed. Last year, Scouting for Food gathered 1.9 million items of food which provided more than 1 million meals for the needy.
Residents who do not receive a bag can take canned food donations to any Goodwill store location Nov. 22-28.
Virtual Option:
- Spread the word! To donate virtually, text “SCOUTFOOD” to 91999 – all monetary donations will be donated to the St. Louis Foodbank and Operation Food Search. A $1 donation = 4 meals!
2020 Scouting for Food Patch Orders! Get yours before they are gone!
To order visit: Link Coming Soon
Scouting for Food Collection Sites
Background
It takes a great deal of community support, planning, cooperation, dedication and volunteers to make Scouting for Food the largest single-day community food drive in the Boy Scouts of America. Started in 1985 by the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Scouting for Food has expanded to other councils across the country.
More than 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts annually help the needy as they collect approximately 2 million cans of food during the Scouting for Food drive. The Greater St. Louis Area Council has collected more than 55 million cans of food during the 34-year history of the drive.
Items collected serve approximately 500 pantries within the Greater St. Louis Area Council, which includes the St. Louis metropolitan area, southeastern Missouri, and southern Illinois.
Scouts in the St. Louis area take donations to fire stations where it is sorted and boxed. Sunset Transportation Inc. of Sunset Hills provides trucks, equipment and volunteer drivers. It also coordinates all logistics for the food collection, which involves transporting boxed food from more than 35 area fire stations to the St. Louis Area Foodbank & Operation Food Search. The Foodbank & Operation Food Search distributes the canned goods through a network of more than 700 area food pantries and organizations.
What kind of food donations are needed? Read our suggestions on the “Perfect Bag.”