FOOD SCOUTS REAP BIGGER HARVEST

While collecting canned goods Saturday as part of the annual Scouting for Food drive, Cub Scouts from Pack 8 found a way to turn one good deed into two.

As the Scouts picked up white plastic bags filled with food from doorsteps, one of the boys noticed a note attached to a bag.

It was a thank you note expressing appreciation to the Scouts for collecting canned goods for the needy. The note-writer also wanted to hire the Scouts to rake leaves and offered to pay $5 an hour.

But the Scouts, sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Men's Club, always looking for ways to help others, will do the job for free.

On Saturday, 42 Scout units in the five counties of the Shawnee District did a Good Turn and collected 46,958 cans of food, an increase of 34 percent from last year's collection.

Last year, the Shawnee District in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Perry, Scott and Stoddard counties, collected 35,000 cans of food.

All the food is donated to food banks in the areas where food is collected, explained Tom Turpin, district scout executive.

"That is a pretty good number, a real solid effort," Turpin said. He credited increased publicity for the increase in this year's drive.

Chairman for this year's Scouting for Food drive is Howard Meagle of KFVS-TV 12.

"This is one of the reasons I'm in Scouting," Meagle said at the Cape Girardeau collection point in Arena Park. "It's fun to do, and we are always looking to do good things."

Getting boys involved in the community through service projects is part of Scouting's plan. "They have to learn that," Meagle said.

In addition to making arrangements to rake a neighbor's leaves, other Scouts found a lost cellular phone and got it back to its owner.

All morning and into the afternoon, Boy Scouts and their parents unloaded truckload after vanload of food.

"The next part is where it all goes," Meagle said. "We pass the ball to FISH and the other local food pantries. We make a pretty good team."

Scouts from Troop 4, Pack 15, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, filled a pickup truck with green beans, chili, stew and assorted other canned foods.

"We do this to benefit the community," said Chris McAuley, a senior patrol leader and Life Scout. "And we get a patch."

"We also do it not to have guilt," explained Andrew Welter, also a Life Scout.

Scouts and other volunteers sorted the donated items and stacked them in boxes for distribution to local food pantries.

Among volunteers was a boy who was working with the Division of Youth Services. "I've stacked a lot of food today," he said. "This will sure keep me in shape."

Boy Scouts are starting a new Venturing post in conjunction with Division of Youth Services, and the boy plans to join. "I think it will give me something to do to keep me out of trouble," he said.

Also volunteering were members of the LaCroix United Methodist Youth Group.

On Saturday, teens Ashley Rust and LeAnne Hengst sorted and stacked food for hours. The girls said the project helped them feel good about themselves because they were helping others.

"I think there's a lot to be learned from giving of yourself," said Shari Boxdorfer, youth director for the church. "I like to get the kids out and let them learn that for themselves."