Scouting for Food

On Saturday, February 20, 2010 Scouts from all over the Gulf Ridge Council collected over 46,288 pounds of canned goods. Over 1,300 Scouts and 540 adults volunteered to support Scouting for Food.

Scouting for Food is a National Good Turn of the Boy Scouts of America. Since 1988 over 200 million pounds of food has been gathered, making this the single largest food collection effort in the history of the USA. Scouts in the Gulf Ridge Council collected over 35,000 pounds of food including over 8,000 pounds in Citrus County. Local food banks and relief agencies within the communities distribute the food. We are the only source for most relief agencies for restocking their shelves between the Christmas season and the post office drive in May.

Not only does Scouting for Food help feed the hungry of our communities, it teaches our Scouts that hunger is a problem. Millions of people go hungry every day. By participating in Scouting for Food, a Scout realizes that there is a problem and that he can help put a dent into it. Scouting for Food is a great service to our communities.

Every member of the community is encouraged to participate by donating food items to the food drive.

Local Hunger Facts

• Florida has the highest rate of all the 50 states of children experiencing hunger, or at risk of going hungry. (CCHIP, Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project)
• According to the 2002 Florida Statistical Abstract, 56,043 persons under 18 years old in Hillsborough are living in poverty as of 1998.
• 54% of all students in Hillsborough County Public Schools qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. That is up from 51% just three years ago.

Your unit's information should be entered on the Good Turn for America website.