November is a month dedicated to giving. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in the East Bay area is dedicating their efforts to returning the favor to their communities during this period through the Scouting for Food program. Since 1988, the Boy Scouts of America have been gathering food and clothing across the country, making it the largest single-day food drive in the entire nation.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, BSA will collect food and clothing around the entire East Bay area. Residents are requested to leave non-perishable food and gently used clothing items visible by 9am that morning for easy collection. On Nov. 2-3 or 9-10 weekends, the BSA Scouts will distribute door hangers to inform their neighbors about the upcoming collection on Nov. 16. The canned food will be distributed to Alameda County through the Alameda County Community Food Bank. There are some food donations that stay in the city where they were collected. Newark Troop 186 and Newark Pack 441 donate all their food collection to the Viola Blythe Center where director, Debbie Rodriguez, states they are extremely low and in desperate need for this big donation.
Last year, these Newark troops worked very hard for two Saturdays along with the Alameda County Firefighters volunteers who came out to help collect, separate and sort these items to a large appreciation of the Viola Blythe Center.
The Boy Scouts of America Mission Peak District’s Scouting for Food director, Don Uriu, is particularly enthusiastic about this year’s event. He mentions, “We’ve handed out a record 80,000 door hangers in Union City, Fremont and Newark, aiming for a record collection this weekend.” Last year, the BSA Mission Peak District managed to collect 51,500 pounds of food, 620 pieces of clothing and $5,100 in donations, along with 5,900 service hours.
Every donation is crucial, especially considering the rising costs of living and the financial challenges many families face each month. If you are interested in personally dropping off your donation on Saturday, you can drive to Holy Spirit Church at 37588 Fremont Blvd., Fremont from 10:00am to 2:30pm.
For more information about Scouting for Food, visit the website at: ggacbsa.org/scouting-for-food/. Money Donations are even more important because these organizations have better buying power and can purchase seven times the amount of food and items they are needing the most in their inventory. To donate online go to: donate.accfb.org/vfd/MissionPeak/.
For more information about scouting in your area, check out www.beascout.org to find a unit close to you.
