The following announcement was provided by Watertown Troop 30:
Scouts collected 2.5 tons of food for the food pantry this past November, but both the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting unemployment in Watertown has hit our community hard. At the November drive Kathleen Cunningham, Director of the Watertown Food Pantry made an unusual request: Could another food drive be held soon?
Scouting for Food is a service project the BSA Scouts have participated in for years: Supporting a local food pantry, scouts across the U.S. collect food once a year, usually around Thanksgiving when many are feeling generous.
Scouting for Food in Watertown is a tradition near to the scouts’ hearts: Both the Watertown Food Pantry and the scouts call the Watertown-Belmont United Methodist Church at 80 Mt. Auburn Street home.
The answer to Cunningham’s question was yes, and March 20, scouts from Troop 30 (age 10-17) and Pack 30 (age 5-10) responded, collecting 5186 pounds of groceries, cleaning supplies and personal items from Watertown neighbors. Of particular note was the Bear Den of Pack 30, a group of third graders who together collected 1,500 pounds of food that had to be delivered to the Food Pantry in several cars and one pickup truck.
The individual scout who collected the heaviest load of donations was Webelos Scout Xavier Owens, who collected 814.7 pounds of food.
“The extraordinary team of scouts and leaders is overwhelming. The Watertown Food Pantry is truly proud to partner with this team,” said Cunningham. “When support is needed they really know how to get a job done!”
For those who missed the food drive, the Watertown Food Pantry is open Tuesdays for donations (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) and for services (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Keep up the good work.
Wonderful.