By Vicki D’Aguanno
One of the promises of the Boy Scout Oath is “duty to others.” On Saturday, March 24, Port Washington’s local Boy Scout Troop 7 did just that as they participated in the Scouting For Food Drive at Stop and Shop located at 65 Shore Rd.
Scouting for Food is an annual program run by the Boy Scouts of America that began in 1985 with the purpose of collecting food for local food banks and food pantries. Across the country, in many districts, thousands of troops and packs with millions of Scouts involved collect tens of millions of pounds of food, which is then distributed to local families in need of help. Scouting for Food has grown into the Boy Scouts of America’s largest single-day community food drive.
Troop 7 teamed up with the Orange Bag project, created by Clare Masi, and filled more than 100 orange collection bags of food, which equates to about 1,500 pounds of food, and more than $500 in monetary donations. Masi, Port Washington Outreach Coordinator, said she started the food pantry movement in 2012 to help families in the Port Washington Community.
“The orange bag was designed to inform our community that hunger exists.” Masi said. “When you fill an orange bag you are directly helping families in our community.”
These donations helped stock and fill the two food pantries in Port Washington which are located at St. Peters Parish Social Ministries and Our Lady of Fatima Parish Social Ministries. The donations also assisted the Personal Care Pantry located at the Lutheran Church of our Savior. These organizations support the Port community and are always in need of donations.
A big thank you to all of the boys and adult volunteers who made this food drive a huge success and to the local Stop and Shop for allowing them to serve the community.
