On Nov. 11, in 25 degree weather, members of both Pack and Troop 5 and their families set out to collect Scouting For Food donations from local community members.

The previous week the Scouts placed door hangers on homes in the hopes of collecting food for the Everlasting Life Ministries located at the New Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church in Allentown. On Nov. 11, while driving out through the community, Scouts looked at doorsteps in the hopes of finding bags full of nonperishable items to donate to the church.

Scouting For Food is an annual nationwide event of the Boy Scouts of America that began in 1985 in St. Louis to support local community food banks.

The Scouts from the Pack and Troop 5 like Scouting For Food for many reasons. The Scouts all stated they enjoyed helping people in need. Aidan Mathieu likes the combination of exercise with the opportunity to give back to his community, while Eric Smith likes talking to local community members as he distributes door hangers.

After collecting 1,200 pounds of nonperishables, the Scouts traveled to New Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church to donate their collection, where they learned their donations would last the church about a month.

Every Saturday, the church donates 1,700 bags to local people in need each with 42 pounds of items, including food and toiletries. The food bank donated 6,000 pounds to those in need recently.

On Nov. 18, the church held a Thanksgiving dinner.

Rich Kloss who has participated in Scouting For Food for 15 years, said “it is the appropriate time of year to help those in need.”

Donations of nonperishable food items continue to be accepted at New Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays.