Food bank gets ready to scout for food

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The community is encouraged to start saving a can of food a week in preparation for the national Scouting for Food drive on March 29.
Scouting for Food is a once a year event organized by the Utah National Parks Council. Boy Scouts throughout the county collect donations for local food banks. These donations will be distributed by Emery County Food Bank to families in need in Emery County.
By starting now to save at least one can of food per week for the food drive, each member of the community would have 10 cans to donate.
“If everybody put only one item a week aside, they’d be shocked at how much good they can do,” said Karen Frost of Utah National Parks Council.
Specific items that are needed include chili, different kinds of beans, canned fruit, tuna fish, other canned meats, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, jam or jelly, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, canned milk and peanut butter. Food with nutritional value is encouraged so that the dietary needs of families are met.
“I believe,” said Jackie Butkovich, program manager, “and Emery County Food Bank believes that every single person can do something to help end hunger here in our community. Every pound of food donated helps us to give the hope of a brighter tomorrow,”
Each year Emery County Food Bank distributes more than 14,600 pounds of donated food and grocery products to families and elderly in need in Emery County. This is made possible because of the generosity of the local community who regularly donate to Scouting for Food drive and other community food drives.
Last year, more than 5,800 pounds of food were donated on the day of the drive. Fifty eight hundred pounds will supply the food bank with enough resources to feed families for six months.
“There are so many people who are in need. A little bit at a time makes a huge difference,” said Frost.
For more information about the Scouting for Food drive, visit www.UtahScouts.org or www.FoodBanksofUtah.org.