Scouting for Food starts here in February

Boy Scout Troop 37 at Life Springs Church, Pack 103 at Life Springs and Pack 107 at Zebulon First Baptist Church will take part in the annual Scouting for Food event the first two weeks in February. Scouting for Food will benefit several food banks in Pike County.’Every year in February on two consecutive weekends we hold the food drive,’ said Jason Gill, assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 37. ‘On the first Saturday, Scouts put out bags in different neighborhoods that let people know we’re collecting food for different food banks. We appreciate them putting food in the bags and setting them out for the next Saturday by 8 a.m. when we come back around and pick them up.’ Scouting for Food will start Saturday, Feb. 7, with the annual cleanup at Fincher’s Chapel and Scout House. Scouts will go door-to door to pass out Scouting for Food bags. The Scouts are limited in the number of houses they can visit but anyone can drop off canned and non-perishable food goods at the Scout House on Highway 109 West across from Fincher’s Chapel or in the donation box at Freshway Market.To have donations picked up call Matthew Evans at 470-219-0751, John Sulewksi at 404-569-5168, Matthew Tomarchio at 770-468-2188 or Rita Bagwell at 770-313-4021.’This is one way Scouts try to help others in the community,’ said Gill. Scouting for Food bags will be distributed by Pack 103 in Whitfield subdivision and by Pack 107 in the Wellington and Hutchinson Farms subdivisions. Pack 107 will also collect donations at Freshway Market from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Feb. 7 and 14.  Scouts will hand out bags at Life Springs UMC, Christ Chapel, Concord Baptist, Mt. Olive Baptist and First Baptist.’We learned the food bank at Christ Chapel distributed 92,000 pounds to those in need in the community last year,’ said Rita Bagwell. ‘In speaking with Dave Fowler, who assists the Molena Food Pantry, we learned 20 to 30 families are provided with bags of donations each month including items including meats, toilet paper, drinks and canned goods. The need for assistance is great.’Scouts will pick up the Scouting for Food bags Saturday, Feb. 14. Scout Sunday at Life Springs Church or other churches will be Sunday, Feb. 8. Boy Scouts and Venture Crew members are asked to wear their uniforms to church that day. ’There is nothing sweeter than to see the boys faces as they return to see bags full waiting for pick up,’ said Bagwell. ‘It’s even more overwhelming when it’s all compiled into one big batch and taken to the food pantries. That’s what scouting is all about ‘“ helping others and serving our community.’