Boy Scouts Distribute Bags to Start Food Drive

Carrying plastic bags, a phalanx of Orange County Boy Scouts Saturday morning kicked off an annual food drive that organizers say helps feed about 180,000 people each month.

About 40,000 Scouts and parent volunteers distribute the bags to approximately 660,000 homes during the annual Scouting For Food drive, said Shelle Murach, the Scouts’ publicity chairwoman.

On Nov. 19, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Explorers will return to pick up the plastic bags, which they hope will be filled with non-perishable food. Scouts are asking residents to place canned soup, fruits, vegetables or meat in the bags and leave them at the front door this week for pickup.

The Scouts will sort and box the food, and, with the help of volunteers from the 540th Main Support Battalion of the California Army National Guard, deliver it to about 25 collection sites. The food will eventually be stored at the Food Distribution Center in Orange.

“This is the county’s largest food drive,” Murach said. “More than 280 local groups depend on it.”

In its seventh year, the food drive is expected to bring in 500,000 cans of food for the needy, while helping youngsters learn about social responsibilities, Murach said.

“This is one of the nicest things the boys do for the community all year,” Murach said. “It’s really heartening to watch because they really get into it. They get very excited about who gets the most food.”