Kennebec Valley District Scouts hold area food drives

Boy Scout Troop 401 Troop 401 members front from left are Willie LeHay, Zachary LeHay, Parker LeHay, Anderson Diehl, Gregory Bard, Seth Sadler, Eric Handley and Daphanie Simpson. Second row from left are William Dudley, Dawson White, Dan Allarie, Issac Allarie and Gabe Steinberger. Submitted photo

Scouts in Kennebec Valley District, which includes Somerset, Kennebec, Franklin, Lincoln and Knox counties, are taking time during the holiday season to help other people through the annual Scouting for Food Drive. “It’s great to see our Scouts giving back to their communities,” said Kennebec Valley District Vice Chairman Chuck Mahaleris, in a news release. “A Scout is taught to be ‘Helpful’ and to ‘Help Other People at All Times.’ It is heartening to see our Cub Packs and Scout Troops taking time to put those words into practice.”

Troop 401 in Sidney had their Scouting for Food drive early in November. “The Troop collected a pickup truck full of non-perishable food, plus Scouts handed a check for $150 to the Food Cupboard from the bottle drive they worked on. The Scouts then separated the food by date and helped take care of the product,” said Troop 401 Scoutmaster Eric Handley.

On Nov. 19, Scouts from Jackman Troop 497 held their Scouting for Food Drive outside Mountain Country Supermarket. Scoutmaster Karla Talpey was delighted by the response from the community. “Whether you put 50 cents in the donation bucket or $50 or donated a turkey or two, or hams, or canned goods, please know how appreciative Troop 497 is of your donations to our Scouting for Food drive. The community’s response every year is just unbelievable and we are so grateful!”

Talpey said that the Scouts and their parents sorted, packed and delivered boxes to those who are food insecure in Jackman and one family in the Forks. The boxes had turkeys, hams, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, cranberry jelly, brownie mix, sugar, flour, butter, cheese and crackers, canned vegetables, juices, paper towels, onions, spaghetti and sauces, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and everything you need for Thanksgiving feast.

“It is only because of your support that we are able to make and deliver these boxes every year. A total of approximately 800 pounds of food in total. On behalf of all the Scouts of Troop 497, we wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. God Bless Each and every one of you,” said Tapley.

In Pittsfield, Scoutmaster Shelley Connolly reported, “Amazing Job Cub Scout Pack 428 and Boy Scout Troop 428. We collected a lot of food and had $401.52 in cash donation.”

Scouts in that Pack and Troop have an annual “Fill the Tent” program where they ask shoppers at Danforth’s Supermarket to help those in need. They had their collection effort on Nov. 5. Food was given to the Somerset Elementary Pantry and another donation will be delivered to the Pittsfield Food Pantry after Christmas.

Similar efforts have also been held by Cub Scouts in Augusta and Camden with more being organized for December in other parts of the district. “As long as there is a need, Scouts will be there to help,” Mahaleris said.