Annual Scouting For Food Drive collects 1,970,766 donations

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The largest one-day food drive in the Boy Scouts of America took place Saturday as thousands of Scouts throughout the St. Louis metro area, southeast Missouri, and Southern Illinois canvassed neighborhoods collecting Scouting For Food donations. The drive accumulated 1,970,766 items of food that will stock local food pantry shelves just in time for the holidays.

Residents who did not receive a bag or forgot to donate can still participate in Scouting For Food. MERS Missouri Goodwill, 2018 Scouting For Food title sponsor, is accepting nonperishable and canned food donations at all of its store locations Nov. 18-24.

"We are grateful for another generous Scouting For Food collection," said Ronald Green, Scout Executive/CEO of the Greater St. Louis Area Council. "These efforts would not be possible without the entire community stepping up to help those in need. The generosity and commitment to our community are what make this region a great place to live and work."

In the St. Louis area, Sunset Transportation provided vehicles, equipment, and volunteer drivers to transport food to the St. Louis Area Foodbank for further distribution to over 500 hunger-relief programs and local agencies in the bi-state area. In southeast Missouri and southern Illinois, Scouts delivered donations directly to local food pantries.

This year's campaign, also sponsored by Great Clips and Raising Cane's, marks the Boy Scouts' 34th annual Scouting For Food drive. For more information, visit sff.stlbsa.org.