The Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America once again partnered with residents to fight against hunger during the annual Scouting for Food initiative.
Without COVID-19, food insecurity effects almost 40 million Americans, and approximately 6.8 million of them are children. This means these families were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all their members. If you add in families who may be experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those statistics dramatically increase.
To help alleviate hunger in the community, roughly 6,000 scouts canvassed area neighborhoods on Saturday, Nov. 7 to distribute food-collection bags and door hangers to homes. The following weekend, Saturday, Nov. 14, Scouts picked up the bags filled with non-perishable items and delivered them to local food pantries throughout the community.
The Gulf Stream Council partnered with local beneficiaries, such as the Salvation Army of Indian River County, the Ecumenical Pantry, Mustard Seed Ministries, House of Hope, the Tree of Life Foundation and the Palm Beach County Food Bank to collect a record-breaking 67,687 pounds of food for those in need this holiday season.
In 2019, scouts collected 49,156 pounds of food. This year, scouts collected 67,687 pounds of food. This was a 38 percent increase in food collected. The Gulf Stream Council thanks sponsor Tire Kingdom TBC Corporation for making this food drive possible.
The Gulf Stream Council has been serving the youth of Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Henry, Glades and Okeechobee counties for more than 104 years. For more info., visit www.gulfstreamcouncil.org.
