Community helps make food drive truly successful

To the editor:

Here are some statistics from America's largest single-day food drive: 40,000 Scouts, 20,000 volunteers. 500 food pantries receiving three months of food, more than 2.1 million cans. Thank you Southeast Missouri, St. Louis metro area and Southern Illinois for your unmatched kindness and support.

Nov. 22 marked the closing of the 19th Annual Scouting for Food. More than 2.1 million cans were collected in 37 Missouri and Illinois counties by the Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts Council. Each can is a symbol of our area's commitment to this institution.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication shown by volunteers and organizations. Local media publicized the drive. Scouts, parents and volunteers distributed and collected the bags. Firehouses gave their space to support the collection process. The Army Reserve transported thousands of pounds of boxed food. Union Planters Bank offered space as alternate drop-off locations. Our unity makes Scouting for Food a success.

This Thanksgiving season, the Boy Scouts wish to recognize all those who make our community a better place. Thank you for your generous support of the Scouting for Food drive and for helping to feed our region's hungry. We are proud and fortunate to live in such a generous community.

TERRY L. SCHWARCK

Scout Executive

Greater St. Louis Area Council

Boy Scouts of America

St. Louis