Photos Of St. Louis Area Food Bank Before, After Scouting For Food

Tens of thousands of Scouts participated in the 25th annual Scouting for Food Good turn. More than 2.1 million canned goods were collected to feed the hungry throughout our communities.

Many Scouts who collect food in St. Louis city and county bring the canned goods to area fire stations.  There, the food is sorted, boxed and then transported by Sunset Transportation to the St. Louis Area Food Bank.

Bruce Levitt, a longtime volunteer, photographed the Food Bank warehouse on Saturday morning before the drive. He returned today to the warehouse and provided the after-campaign photograph.

The warehouse at the St. Louis Area Food Bank before the 2009 Scouting for Food Good Turn.

The warehouse at the St. Louis Area Food Bank after the 2009 Scouting for Food Good Turn.

Scout Executive Thanks Scouts, Leaders, Parents And Community For Successful Scouting For Food

John M. Primrose, Scout Executive and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, released the following message in an e-mail to the council’s Executive Board and adult volunteer leaders at 7:30 p.m. today.

More than 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers helped feed the hungry on Saturday as they collected 2.1 million cans of food during the 2009 Scouting for Food drive. The Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, collected more than 41 million cans of food during the 25-year history of the drive.

After distributing nearly one million bags last weekend, on Saturday the Scouts returned to those same areas to collect canned goods and other non-perishables. Scouts in the St. Louis area took the donations to area fire stations where Scout leaders sorted and boxed the food. Scouts in the surrounding counties delivered food donations directly to pantries.

Sunset Transportation, Inc. of Sunset Hills provided vehicles, equipment, volunteer drivers and solicited the assistance of additional volunteers from trucking companies.  Sunset Transportation coordinated all logistics for the food collection, which involved transporting boxed food from more than 40 area fire stations to the St. Louis Area Food Bank. The Food Bank will distribute the canned goods to more than 500 area food pantries throughout eastern Missouri and southwest Illinois.

Our Scouts and leaders today were overwhelmed by the community’s generous response. Pantries experienced an increased demand for food assistance during the last year. Families needing nutritional assistance during the coming winter months will have adequate food because of the generosity of our communities and the hard work of our Scouts and leaders. We also thank Wells Fargo Advisors for supporting this year’s service project.

May we all pause to count our blessings during the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. I am thankful for you and for all who help our Scouts and Scouting program.

Remind People To Fill Scouting For Food Bags, Put Them Out For Collection

Saturday, Nov. 21, will be the 25th annual Scouting for Food Good Turn. Help us remind people to fill the bags they received last week with nutritious canned goods and place them outside before 9 a.m.

• Post the following message in your Facebook status update today or tomorrow:

My Scouting for Food bag is filled and outside my door for the Scouts to collect. Join me in doing the same to feed the hungry. http://tinyurl.com/stlsff

• Post the following message on Twitter:

My Scouting for Food bag is filled and outside my door for the Scouts to collect. Join me and feed the hungry. #stlsff #bsa

• Send an e-mail to your friends and remind them to fill their bags and place them outside before 9 a.m.
• Talk to your friends, family and associates and remind them about the drive.

More than 500 food pantries throughout eastern Missouri and southern Illinois depend on Scouting for Food for more than 25 percent of the food they annually distribute.

Is your bag filled? What did you put in your bag? You’re welcome to join our conversation by leaving a comment.

Have You Ever Truly Gone Hungry?

Amanda St. Amand’s blog entry, Have You Ever Truly Gone Hungry? generated a lot of discussion at stltoday.com on Wednesday. She presents some thought-provoking questions that many people ask themselves during the holidays. We appreciate the mention of Scouting for Food as a way to help feed the hungry.

You’re welcome to join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Agriculture Secretary Says 49 Million Americans Lacked Consistent Access To Adequate Food

The 25th annual Scouting for Food canned-good drive will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, throughout the Greater St. Louis Area Council. Hundreds of pantries throughout our council rely on Scouting for Food donations for anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of the food they annually distribute. As we prepare for the 25th anniversary of the drive, the demand for food at pantries might be at an all-time high.

A New York Times story published on Monday stated that hunger in America may be at an all-time high:

The number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls “food insecurity” 14 years ago, the Department of Agriculture reported Monday.

The increase, of 13 million Americans, was much larger than even the most pessimistic observers of hunger trends had expected and cast an alarming light on the daily hardships caused by the recession’s punishing effect on jobs and wages.

About a third of these struggling households had what the researchers called “very low food security,” meaning lack of money forced members to skip meals, cut portions or otherwise forgo food at some point in the year.

The other two-thirds typically had enough to eat, but only by eating cheaper or less varied foods, relying on government aid like food stamps, or visiting food pantries and soup kitchens.

Scouting for Food helps the general public play a critical role in feeding the hungry. Is your bag ready for Saturday?  Did you buy a few extra canned goods for someone who needs a nutritious meal? If you are a Scout, leader or parent, are you prepared to collect bags on Saturday? You’re welcome to join our conversation by leaving a comment.