Food for the needy

Boy Scouts in the Shawnee District have something to be proud of, and so do the local communities where these Scout troops meet. More than 71,000 food items were collected during a recent Scouting for Food Drive held in Southeast Missouri.

The number exceeded the goal of 70,000 items and was significantly higher than last year's collection. Scouts from Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties and the communities of Scott City, Chaffee and Advance participated in the food drive.

The Scouts in the district worked to distribute the sacks for donated items and then spent a day collecting them. Their work will benefit area food pantries, which desperately need the donations at this time of year.

Forty-four Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops spent a recent Saturday afternoon collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items. Items taken to the New McKendree United Methodist Church were sorted and will be used by the Jackson Ministerial Alliance's food pantry program. Other community food drives will benefit as well.

Anyone who wasn't able to participate can make a donation to a local food pantry today. Donations are always appreciated -- and welcome when requests run particularly high, like during the holiday season.