In the spirit of the BSA promise to do a good turn daily and “to help other people at all times”, the Hawkeye Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be holding their annual “Scouting for Food” donation drive during the first and second weekends of October. 

According to Gallup, one in six Americans struggle with hunger and do not know where their next meal will come from. There are food insecure families in every community.

Scouting for Food is the BSA’s nationwide service project to help stop hunger. It began as one Scout’s service project in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1985, and was adopted by the Boy Scout National Organization in 1988.

Scouting for Food will take place on two consecutive weekends. On October 1 in Kalona and October 2 in Wellman and Keota, Scouts will distribute collection bags to let communities know about the drive. The bags will have additional information concerning the food drive printed on them. On the second weekend, October 8, Scouts revisit those homes to collect bags full of canned food and other non-perishable items. The scouts ask that participating households have the food on their front step or other visible location by 9:00 AM Saturday in Kalona and noon Saturday in Wellman and Keota on October 8.

Cub Scout Pack 234 will be distributing and collecting bags in Kalona. Scouts BSA Troop 234 will be distributing and collecting bags in Wellman and Keota. Food and other non-perishable items collected will be provided to local food pantries in their respective communities.

Households that have flags in need of retirement may also set their damaged flags out with the donated food and scouts will pick them up for proper disposal. Scouts are also actively selling popcorn for their program fundraiser.

Both Pack 234 and Troop 234 are chartered by Sons of AmVets Squad 107 of Richmond. They include scouts from the communities of Kalona, Keota, Richmond, Washington, West Chester and Wellman. If you would like more information on Troop 234, which includes male youth from 6th-12th grade, please contact Scott Flynn at Kalonatroop234@gmail.com. If you are interested in Pack 234, which includes male youth from kindergarten thru 5th grade, please contact Jeff Kaufman at hawkeye101@gmail.com for more information.