Boy Scouts of America Help Combat Hunger with
20th Annual Scouting for Food Drive
(Toms
River and Egg Harbor Township,
NJ, October 31, 2007) – Continuing an important service begun in 1988,
the Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, is preparing for its 20th Annual Scouting for Food drive November 10 with a district-wide food collection effort.
Scouting for Food,
conducted each fall, addresses one of five “unacceptables” in our society – hunger -- and teaches Scouts
about the importance of compassion toward others.
“Just imagine the anguish
of a parent who cannot provide food for his or her family, especially during the holidays,” said Ethan Draddy, Jersey
Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, Scout Executive. “Nowadays, everything seems to cost more, and more than ever,
families are having difficulty making ends meet.”
“The need for food
is great in our area,” said Joseph Yeoman, volunteer chair in charge of the Scouting for Food project in the Atlantic
area. “The Scouting community here at the Jersey Shore is active, generous and resourceful. I’m confident that, together with the
support of the community, we’ll be able to provide much needed food to the area’s food banks and their clients.”
According to Dr. Jon Larson,
President of Ocean County College and Jersey Shore Council Executive Board member in charge of Scouting for Food in the Ocean
area, “Food pantries in Ocean and Atlantic Counties rely heavily on the Scouts’ massive collection effort. Everyone who participates
in Scouting for Food should feel a sense of pride knowing they are providing much needed help to families in their community.”
This year, Scouting for Food
is supported by a number of corporate sponsors including Component Hardware, WPVI Channel 6, New Jersey State Police, Atlantic
Ocean County College, Monmouth/Ocean Food Bank, Jersey Shore Girl Scouts, Ocean County Hunger Relief, Toms River Rotary Club
- Evening, Community Food Bank of New Jersey-Southern Branch, Salvation Army – Atlantic City, Holiday City Organization,
and Pack Rat.
Scouting for Food
is the largest food collection drive in Ocean and Atlantic Counties and a wonderful example of what Scouting is all about. Since 1988, nearly 5.5
million pounds of food (230,000 pounds in 2006 alone) has been collected by the Scouting for Food drive for distribution to
needy families in the Jersey Shore
area. The 2006 drive resulted in the single largest collection effort in the Northeast Region.
This year’s Scouting for Food drive will begin on November 10 when 15,000 youth
and adult volunteers will fan out across Ocean and Atlantic Counties,
parts of Burlington County and Ocean City in Cape
May County to distribute collection bags to all households.
Volunteers will return the following week, November 17, to collect filled bags and bring them to one of many centrally located
collection points. Residents who would like to participate in Scouting for Food may also call the Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, at 732-349-1037 or 609-272-6820
for the location of a collection point near them.
The Jersey Shore Council,
Boy Scouts of America, with Scout Service Centers in Toms River and Egg Harbor Township, serves 15,000 youth and adult
volunteers in Ocean and Atlantic Counties,
parts of Burlington County,
and Ocean City
in Cape May County.
To learn more about Scouting at the Jersey Shore,
visit www.jerseyshore-bsa.org
