It is that time of year when a familiar mix of changing weather and generosity returns, and this weekend, Scouts from Pack and Troop 7322 will help keep a four-decade tradition moving with the annual “Scouting for Food ” holiday drive this weekend.
Boys and girls with the troop are teaming with Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada to collect donated food items 30 minutes before Mass on Saturday, December 13, at 4 or 6 p.m., and Sunday, December 14, at 8 or 10 a.m. or 5 p.m.
Donations can be dropped off at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church at 1250 Wyoming Avenue in Reno.
“Year after year, our community shows up with open hearts, and these Scouts remind us what service looks like in action,” said Lisa Ross, community relations officer, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada. “Every bag of groceries donated through Scouting for Food helps ensure local families have a warm meal and a little more peace of mind during the holidays.”
Suggested items include peanut butter and jelly, canned meats such as tuna, chicken, or salmon, canned soups, canned or dried beans, canned yams or potatoes, canned fruit or applesauce, pasta, instant mashed potatoes, and pudding or custard.
Frozen turkeys or hams can be delivered directly to St. Vincent’s Food Pantry at 500 E. Fourth Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Everything collected will be distributed through the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry to help feed local families who may otherwise have no holiday meal.
In earlier years, Scouts gathered a record 6,000 pounds of food, which provided more than 5,000 meals to people in need.
The St. Vincent’s Food Pantry serves an average of 40,000 people each month with pre-packaged food boxes filled with non-perishable and perishable items to help supplement their home supply.
