REGION – On Saturday, Nov. 9, hundreds of Boy Scouts throughout the region took part in the annual Scouting for Food drive, helping to collect, deliver and sort donations for local food pantries.
In Northborough, troops used the parking lot at Trinity Church as a staging area. Across several tables, Scouts unpacked donations, checked them for damage and expiration dates then boxed them for delivery to the Northborough Food Pantry nearby.
“It’s a great thing for the food pantry, and it’s fun every year,” said Jim VanderPoel of Northborough Troop 101.
Another member of the troop, John Magoun, said the food drive has been happening for more than 50 years.
“It’s interesting, seeing all the kids work together,” he said.
Just over the hill, pantry staff and volunteers distributed the donations to awaiting shelves.
“We accept anything that’s shelf stable,” said Bridget Uzar, co-director of the food pantry.
In addition to the Scouting for Food drive, the pantry will be taking in holiday donations from the Northborough Helping Hands Association.
For information on Helping Hands, go to https://northboroughhelpinghands.org/
For information on the Northborough Food Pantry, go to https://nfpantry.org/nfp/
Meanwhile, the Forbes Community House in Westborough was where several troops, including the all-girl Troop 11 of Hopkinton and Westborough, conducted their drive.
Downstairs, troop members collected and weighed the donations, then brought them upstairs for sorting.
“It’s really fun,” said Eleanor Johnson of Troop 11, the daughter of Assistant Scoutmaster Andrew Johnson, who helped with the sorting.
“It’s interesting to see what comes in,” said Andrew Johnson.
Polly Thayer, director of the food pantry, said “in-demand” items include pasta sauce, cookies and crackers, and Dinty Moore beef stew.
For information, visit https://westboroughfoodpantry.org/
