Queen Anne’s Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are once again going “Scouting for Food,” an annual food drive put on by The Boy Scouts of America. The event is put on every March because food banks are historically at their lowest levels between the more traditional food drive times of Christmas and Easter, and in the greatest need.

This Saturday, March 19, scouts will be canvassing Queen Anne homes, leaving door hangers with information about hunger in the community and soliciting for donations of food, toiletries and diapers. The scouts will then return next Saturday, March 26, to pick up all donations. Those interested in making a donation should leave bags or boxes with donated items on their doorsteps, clearly marked with the words “Scouting for Food” or the door hanger taped in a visible place. All donations will go to the Queen Anne Helpline and Ballard Food Bank.

Last year the Queen Anne scouts raised over 1,050 pounds of foods for both organizations. For information on recommended donation items, see the Ballard Food Bank’s wish list. For more information on Scouting for Food and how to get involved, click here.

Last week the Queen Anne Cub Scouts (Troops 70 & 72) went “Scouting for Food,” collecting donated food and toiletries in an annual drive for local food banks. After collecting over 600 pounds of food last year, the scouts set their sights a little higher, aiming to reach 1,000 in the 2010 drive.

Between the two troops, the scouts were able to collect over 800 pounds of donations, which when paired with the 250 pounds collected by the Queen Anne Boy Scouts, added up to over 1,050 pounds!

According to scout parent and 2010 Scouting for Food campaign co-chair Mary Chapman, the majority of the food was donated to the Ballard Food Bank, and another 100 pounds of food and toiletries were given to the Queen Anne Helpline. Chapman wrote,

The Ballard Food Bank thanked the Queen Anne Scouts profusely, saying that their food supplies are very low this time of year.  Recently the Ballard Food Bank has had double the number of requests for assistance – up to 1,400 families a month – compared to an average of 700 just two years ago.

Thanks to the Scouts and their parents for putting this drive together, and to everyone who donated!

(Photo credit: John Hogan)

Don’t forget, the Queen Anne Cub Scouts will be collecting donations of food and toiletries door-to-door this Saturday, March 20. If you received a door hanger at your home last Saturday, remember to put your donation out on your doorstep and mark it for “Boy Scouts” before 10 a.m., when Troops 70 and 72 will begin making the pick-up rounds.

After collecting and weighing the donations, the scouts will deliver them to the Queen Anne Helpline and Ballard Food Bank. Last year they collected over 600 pounds of food, and hope to donate over 1,000 pounds this year! See the back of your door hanger for a list of most need items.

Don’t be surprised if you notice a little something extra on your doorstep today. The Queen Anne Cub Scouts from Troops 70 and 72 will be walking through the neighborhood on assigned routes from 9 a.m. to noon placing door hangers on homes as part of their annual Scouting for Food drive.

The hangers will provide information on hunger in the community and ask for those who can to leave donations of food and toiletries on their porches by 10 a.m. next Saturday, March 20, when the scouts will come back to collect, weight and deliver them to the Queen Anne Helpline and Ballard Food Bank.

“In 2009 the food drive brought in over 600 pounds of donations. Our goal this year is to exceed 1,000 pounds of donations,” wrote scout parent and 2010 Scouting for Food campaign co-chair Mary Chapman. “The Queen Anne Helpline and Ballard Food Bank are especially in need this year to help hundreds of local households make ends meet as a result of the current economic situation.”

(Thanks to Mary for the tip and the picture!)