Local Scouting for Food Drive is the largest of its kind in the U.S.
When Alameda Scouts set out to collect food for our local food bank, they do it in a big way. During this year’s Scouting for Food Drive on November 16, they collected and delivered more than 15,000 pounds of food to the Alameda Food Bank (AFB). That’s more than seven tons!
The donated food included more than 400 pounds of cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy for Thanksgiving—as well as 3,000 pounds of pasta, rice, and beans for everyday meals.
The Alameda Scouting for Food Drive is the largest of its kind in the nation, according to the Food Bank. Rather than sending the food to a large food bank warehouse to sort and distribute to other organizations to give to the public, Alameda Scouts not only collect the food donations but also sort and deliver the food directly to our local food bank. Needless to say, it’s a lot of work.
“If you have never seen the controlled chaos that is the Alameda Scouting for Food Drive here you go,” Alameda Food Bank wrote on its Facebook page as an introduction to a video of this year’s Drive.
“The Scouts not only collected the food but sorted it for us,” said AFB Warehouse Manager Josh England. “That helps us quickly get the food on the shelves of our Island Community Market for families that need it.”
It was a very busy day for the Scouts. The non-perishable food donated by residents throughout Alameda will help the food bank put meals on the tables of the 1,300 families who turn to it for help each week. An average of 375 people shop there each day it’s open, England said.
Residents who did not have a chance to donate to the Scouting For Food Drive may donate food or funds directly to Alameda Food Bank. Information on how to help our Island neighbors this holiday season is available at Ways to Give – Alameda Food Bank.
