Scouting for Food Good Turn

 The Good Turn for America is a national call to service by the Boy Scouts of America to specifically address the issues of hunger, homelessness, and poor health in our nation- but also applies to service throughout our community.  To address these issues, the BSA is collaborating with some of the most respected service organizations in the nation; The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity International and hundreds of local charities to provide volunteer opportunities for youth and adults to fight hunger, provide shelter, and teach the habits of healthy living.

      The BSA National Good Turn has been in effect almost as long as we have been in existence.  The first National Good Turn was in 1912 to promote safety over the Independence Day celebration.  Later, during World War I, BSA members collected peach pits and nut hulls.  These were burned to make charcoal for soldier’s gas masks.  In 1934, Scouts were called upon to collect food, clothing, furnishings, and other items to help the needy during the Great Depression.  Throughout World War II, Boy Scouts conducted one of the first national recyclable goods drives to aid the war effort, grew “victory gardens” to lessen the impact of wartime food rationing, collected over ten million books to send to soldiers overseas, and gathered over 7,000 tons of clothing to distribute to refugees in war-torn Europe and Asia.  Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Scouts carried out campaigns to remind the American public to vote in national elections.  In the 1970s and 1980s, Scouts distributed materials about the importance of organ donations, conducted countless conservation projects, and assisted with the 1980 National Census. 

      The current BSA National Good Turn is the “Scouting for Food” program, first started in 1988.  One of the main tenants of Scouting is good citizenship and service to others.  Millions of cans of food are collected by our Scouting movement every year.  This year will be no different.  The need for food in our community is more important that every before. Many area food banks are stretched to their limits by an increased demand for food coupled with lessening donations.  This is our chance to really help our community and show our neighbors how great a program Scouting is to our youth.  Our Scouts are more than willing to step up and help their neighbors in need. 

Mark your calendars now as Scouts will be passing out bags on Saturday, October 31, 2009 and collecting them the following Saturday, November 7, 2009.  Each district will collect food for the organizations listed below.  We encourage all units to log their service hours on the Good Turn for America website.

TWIN RIVERS DISTRICT:  The Salvation Army of West Pasco
CALUSA DISTRICT:  Palm Harbor F.E.A.S.T.
OSCEOLA DISTRICT:  Religious Community Services Food Bank
SKYWAY DISTRICT:  St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank

  The need for food is growing everyday within our communities.  The Boy Scouts of America is ready, willing, and able to step up and build our community.  Be part of the difference, make the effort, and help those in need.

Click here to sign up or contact John O'Neil for more information on the Scouting for Food Good Turn.