'SCOUTING FOR FOOD' AS CRUCIAL NOW AS IT WAS 14 YEARS AGO

For the 14th consecutive year, the Greater St. Louis Area Council is collecting food for the hungry. Scouts distributed bags on November 14. These scouts will return to those same homes on November 21 to collect donated canned goods. This program donates all collected food to local food banks and food pantries. All food is labeled with a "Scouting For Food" sticker. This sticker ensures the food is distributed free of charge to the hungry.

The Boy Scouts of America emphasizes the importance of helping others. Doing a "Good Turn" daily and community service are cornerstones of their program. Over the last 14 years, Scouts have collected more than 16 million cans of food.

Frank Finnegan of the St. Louis Area Foodbank reports that the need is still great. More than 329,000 people in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois need assistance. Jobs are more abundant and those with a college education are in demand. However, those people lacking crucial skills may be working for $5 to $7 an hour and are unable to take advantage of our improved economy. They find it increasingly difficult to meet their basic needs. According to the Second Harvest study, "Hunger 1997, the Facts & Figures," 38% of households in need of food assistance have at least one person working and 82% of all households asking for food live on less than $14,000 annually. Working full-time does not guarantee an income above the poverty level. A grocery bill for a family of four may run $100 a week. For a family supported by a minimum wage breadwinner, this means 20 hours of work just to put food on the table.

Even though the economy is strong and those with a good education are sought after, for the people on the sidelines, times are tough and getting tougher. The Scouts' "Good Turn" is important.

For more information, call Tom Turpin at the Scout Service Center in Cape Girardeau at (573) 335-3346 or (800) 335-3346.