Scouts from the Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America will be collecting non-perishable food items Saturday, Nov. 14 for the 2020 Scouting For Food community food drive. The Food Drive initiative is chaired by Kathy Craine of WFMZ TV 69 NEWS.

For 2020, the local Scouts have teamed up with Channel 69, Blue Mountain Ski Resort, The Moritz Embroidery Works, Uline Shipping Supply Specialists and many other area businesses to help collect food for local food pantries, soup kitchens and food banks. This year’s goal is to collect more than 150,000 pounds of food for area hungry.

Scouts distributed door hangers to their local communities last Saturday announcing their intent to return this Saturday to pick up donations. Public food donation drop-off boxes are available until Nov. 23 at several area businesses. If your community did not receive a door hanger or your food was missed, please visit one of the locations below or visit www.scouting4food.com for a full list of participating businesses.

• Wegmans food stores, Bethlehem and Allentown

• Ray Price Car Dealerships

• Bennett Toyota of Allentown

• Bennett Infiniti of Allentown

• Fulton Bank

• Minsi Trails Council Scout Office and Scout Shop

• St. Luke’s University Health Network- Employee Drive

This year scouts will be following strict COVID safety protocols as they distribute the door hangers. Some packs and troops are opting for a contact free drive in collection at a community location. Please be sure to read your door hanger carefully for instructions.

2020 Scouting For Food campaign facts:

• Many area food banks are experiencing significant food shortages this year

• Only non-perishable food items are being accepted – nothing fresh or frozen, and no glass jars

• Nearly 40 percent of food bank donations go to help feed hungry children, so the scout food drive is in large part about kids feeding kids

• All local food donations stay in local communities to help support area food pantries

About Minsi Trails Council

Minsi Trails Council provides leadership and character development programs to nearly 9,500 youth with 3,600 adult volunteers. The council serves young people throughout the Anthracite Region, Pocono Mountains and Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, along with western New Jersey, and serves six-counties: Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne and Warren counties. The local scouting heritage dates back more than 109 years, to when the council’s first scout troops were established in the Allentown and Easton areas. To learn more about scouting, visit www.minsitrails.com.