Traveling door to door in May, the boys in Scouts BSA Troop 139 and Pack 316 of Chester kicked-off their 2021 “Scouting for Food” program and delivered big results for needy families in the community.

Started in 1985, “Scouting for Food” is an annual service activity of the Scouts BSA. The program involves collecting non-perishable items for local food banks and other charitable organizations, which are then distributed to those in need. Scouting for Food is rooted in the very foundation of the Scouting movement and the program’s slogan, “do a good turn daily”.

The event, which traditionally takes place each November, was cancelled late last year and rescheduled for this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During two consecutive weekends this May, seventy-five Chester Scouts and their families traveled to over 3,000 homes, distributing bags and instruction sheets, only then to return to pick-up donated non-perishable food items left by residents of Chester Borough and Chester Township. These items were then sorted, packed, and prepared for needy families. Thanks to the generosity of those in our community, over 6,000 individual food and personal care items were collected, which exceeded 2019’s program total by more than 1,800.

It should come as no surprise that COVID-19 has left many families needing assistance across the country. Unfortunately, such challenges have been felt here in our town as well. Thanks to the Scouts of Chester, and the support of our residents, many families in our area who have been impacted by the pandemic will now have an easier time putting food on their tables.