Community Corner

After 25 Years, Local Boy Scouts Collect More Than 8 Million Pounds of Food

Donations help the RI Community Food Bank meet increased demands.

 

For 25 years the Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America has hosted its annual Scouting for Food Drive, which is now the largest food drive throughout New England. Since the drive’s inception in 1988, the Council has collected more than 8 million pounds of food for Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Over the past few weeks, thousands of Scouts from the Narragansett Council, canvassed the local region to collect food for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and area food pantries. As a result, more than 200,000 pounds of canned goods were donated from the community. (Additional donations are still being collected at Rhode Island Walgreens locations around the state until Nov. 17.)

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“The Drive is a long-standing tradition for our Council,” said John Mosby, the Narragansett Council’s Scout Executive/CEO. “We are so proud of the hard work and number of Scouts and volunteers that make this drive a success. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank has an important mission, and we are grateful to be able to help the needy families and individuals who rely on the Food Bank for help.”

The annual drive is the most significant, annual community service event for the Narragansett Council. Over 200 Scouting Packs and Troops participated in the 25th annual drive.

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In an economy that has been slow to recover, and with recent hurricane devastation, more and more local families have been hit hard and look to the Food Bank for help. The need is there and despite difficult times, the Narragansett Council, was still able to collect more than 200,000 pounds of food this year through the drive.

“Year after year, these young citizens embrace what it means to be a member of our community,” says Andrew Schiff, CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “We’re so grateful to the Scouts, their parents, the Scout leaders and the community as a whole for recognizing that we need to work together to make sure no Rhode Islander goes hungry.”

“The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank would like to extend our gratitude to everyone who donated and participated in this year’s drive,” noted Mosby.


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