MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Scouts with Scouting America will be collecting food donations across the Madison area on Saturday, March 8.
Local troops with Scouting America will pick up non-perishable food donations that are left on doorsteps starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Some troops will also be hosting food drive collection events at local grocery stores.
All food items collected will be taken to local food pantries such as Second Harvest Foodbank, Sunshine Place Emergency Food Pantry, as well as other pantries in the neighborhoods near where the food is collected.
“It’s a great way for these youth to give back to their community, learn more about food insecurity, get some service and just do a lot of good things for the community and collecting food,” Assistant Scout Executive with Glacier’s Edge Council Jason Ballew said.
Scouts with Scouting America, formerly Boy Scouts of America, have participated in the nationwide effort since 1988. In the Madison area, Glacier’s Edge Council consistently collects over 100,000 pounds of food every year, benefitting over 35 local food pantries.
“We just really look forward to seeing that food this Saturday and if you see scouts out and about in uniform, hopefully it puts a smile on your face that there’s young people learning leadership and learning service and thinking about a service above self. So we just want to say thanks in advance,” Ballew said.
One of the food pantries benefitting from the food drive is Sunshine Place Emergency Food Pantry in Sun Prairie.
“We are really lucky to have a really strong relationship and a good relationship with the Sun Prairie scouts and so we’re really excited to benefit from that relationship and all of their really hard work to bring the food here,” Food Security Programs Manager Catie Badsing said.
According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Locally, Badsing said they’re seeing record numbers.
“Every year it seems like we’re seeing more and more,” she said. “We know food prices are high and so we know that this is not a light ask of people even if they’re not using the food pantry. We know that people’s budgets are right. But again, I hope people understand that supporting drives like this makes the whole community stronger.”
The drive officially began last Saturday when Scout troops in Madison and surrounding communities delivered door hangers to each residence, which said they would return this Saturday morning to collect non-perishable food donations that are left on their doorstep.
“We’re also very thankful for our sponsor, Jones Dairy Farm, which helps underwrite the cost of the door hangers and the patches for the scouts,” Ballew added.
All residents of Madison, Portage, Whitewater and anywhere in between are encouraged to set out food items on their porches beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Those who did not already receive a door hanger indicating their pickup time should contact their local Cub Scout Pack, Scouts BSA Troop, or Venturing Crew to arrange a pickup.
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