Scouts Fill Jefferson County Food Pantries

Through the combined efforts of local Jefferson County Cub and Boy Scouts, more than 15,000 lbs of food were offered to the food pantry run by the Jefferson County Community Ministries in 2008.  One weekend a year, scouts go out in their neighborhoods and ask for donations to this great cause.  Some scout troops, like Pack 95 with the Mannahoac District of the Shenandoah Area Council, donated 165 pounds of food bought from money they raised through a popcorn sale earlier in the year, even though they only have 13 scouts in their pack.  This is just one of the ways that scout leaders try to instill a sense of responsibility for giving back to their community at a young age.  And the food pantry is happy to have the help.  With many people losing their jobs, the Jefferson County Community Ministries finds that more and more people are coming every week to receive food from the pantry.  The donations given to the pantry from the scouts every year helps alleviate the stress on the pantry to provide food for its patrons.  In fact, last year alone, over 8700 people were fed with the food donated to Jefferson County Community Ministries' food pantry.  If you would like to donate to the Ministries' food pantry, please call 304-725-3186.