Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
MURRAY — Having gathered over 98,000 pounds of food for Utahns facing food insecurity in 2023, the Scouting for Food food drive is hoping to collect even more food this year in an ongoing effort to fight food insecurity.
One in 10 children in Utah faces hunger every day, according to the Crossroads of the West Council, the Boy Scouts of America council that serves every Boy Scout troop in Utah.
The kickoff to the 38th annual Scouting for Food food drive was held Thursday at Cottonwood High School in Murray. The Crossroads of the West Council, along with Bank of Utah, Arctic Circle, Red Hanger Cleaners, Young Automotive, Yesco, Smith's Food and Drug, Utah National Guard and Souper Bowl of Caring, announced they will begin accepting donations of nonperishable foods, commercially packaged food items and toiletries on Saturday at Smith's locations across the state.
Ben Taylor, a board member of the council, explained that on top of having dozens of collection sites where people can drop off their food donations, local Boy Scout troops will also be repeating the strategy utilized in years past where a bag will be left at the doorsteps of homes in some neighborhoods. Those who wish to donate can do so from the comfort of their own home by filling the bag with their donated items and leaving it on their doorstep for the Boy Scouts to collect Saturday.
To kick off the event, a declaration by Gov. Spencer Cox was read to describe how much the governor values initiatives like Scouting for Food for actively battling food insecurity in Utah. Each of the partners in the initiative is contributing significantly — ensuring that Scouting for Food not only has the resources to gather food from all over Utah but also has the capabilities necessary to transport the donations to food banks and pantries across the state.
"Today, over the next three weeks, we are asking the public to help us fill the state's pantries with nutritious nonperishable canned or boxed foods by dropping them off at donation sites across the state — the food will then be delivered to food pantries and food banks statewide," Taylor said. "We are very grateful to Smith's and the Utah National Guard, who will be playing an invaluable role on this day."
On Saturday, local Boy Scouts will be at Smith's locations all across the state to collect food donations that will go to food banks and pantries, like the food pantry maintained in Cottonwood High School's Teen Center. From there, both Smith's and the Utah National Guard have pledged to help distribute the collected donations to food pantries across the state so that the initiative can immediately begin to bolster pantry food supplies and provide readily accessible food to those in dire need of it.
"This teen center and the student pantry that exists side by side is what it takes to support our students in 2024," explained Leslie Bell, the assistant superintendent of Granite School District. The center and pantry at Cottonwood High provide readily accessible necessities for students who have trouble getting all their needs taken care of at home — providing things like canned food essentials like tomato sauce, as well as amenities like showers, for students to utilize.
Bell explained that Granite School District has a high percentage of students who face hunger daily, harming their ability to learn to the best of their ability and to make healthy life decisions. According to Bell, out of the 58,000 students in Granite School District, over 27,000 of them qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program, and about 1,600 of those students struggle with some form of homelessness in their family lives.
Megan Kenley, marketing and communications specialist for Bank of Utah, spoke on behalf of the other partners present at the kickoff event. "From Feb. 11 to Feb. 29, ourselves at Bank of Utah, Arctic Circle, Red Hanger and Young Automotive will continue on acting as collection sites for donations," Kenley said. "That is a combined 73 additional locations that can help collect food for those in need in Utah."
From Feb. 11 until the end of February, Utahns interested in donating food can refer to the drop-off location map on the Scouting for Food webpage. Some of Scouting for Food's partners like Ryan Fish, the president and owner of Red Hanger Cleaners, are offering Utahns an extra incentive to donate food: Everyone who drops off donations at a Red Hanger location gets a coupon for a free shirt cleaning.
Scouting for Food is encouraging Utahns to take the opportunity, while they're out doing their grocery shopping in preparation for Super Bowl LVIII, to think of Utah's food insecurity needs and spend a couple of dollars to buy some food items that they can donate to the cause. With over 400 Cub Scout packs, Scout troops and Venturing crews from all over Utah being mobilized to 53 participating Smith's locations on Saturday, shoppers picking up groceries for the big game will be able to conveniently donate food either on the way in or on the way out.
"It's incredibly important to think about the need we have in our community," said Taylor, reflecting on why the Scouting for Food food drive can be a great way to get the community involved and how important that involvement is. "It's just fun to take an extra minute while you're in the store, take a couple extra dollars and do something for someone else — there is such a need in our state."