With assistance from Boy Scout Troop 64, Cub Scout Pack 37 collected nonperishable food and personal hygiene products and donated the items to the Hempfield Area Food Pantry at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is located at 85 Brandt Blvd., Landisville.

The donation was part of the nationwide Scouting for Food initiative of the Scouts BSA. The annual program began in 1985 as an initiative of the Greater Saint Louis Area Council.

Last year, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pack collected over 2,000 pounds of food. The Cub Scouts were given a tour of the Hempfield Area Food Pantry last year. "The Scouts got to really see how impactful their activities are," commented Cubmaster Matt Vazquez.

On Nov. 13, members of Cub Scout Pack 37 distributed plastic bags to houses within the Hempfield community. Printed on the front of the plastic bags was a list of acceptable items to donate as well as pickup instructions. Each household was asked to have any donation bags outside by 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 20 so that Cub Scouts could collect everything no later than noon that day. Cub Scouts brought all of the bags to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, where they spent about an hour organizing the items for the food pantry. The pack collected canned meats and fish, soup, sauce, fruit, vegetables, pasta, cereal, rice, peanut butter, personal hygiene products, and more.

"Scouting for Food Day was phenomenal," stated Vazquez. "We had an enormous amount of giving and help and support from our community. The Cub Scouts lived up to their motto of being helpful, they did a good job at being kind to others, and they're learning to be better citizens by supporting the community."

The pack broke its record this year by supplying the food pantry will more than 3,000 pounds of nonperishable items.

The Hempfield Area Food Pantry is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call 717-898-2954.

Cub Scout Pack 37 currently has 20 members in kindergarten through sixth grade. The pack welcomes new members. To learn more, call 717-742-0855 or email padutchpack37@gmail.com.