It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has changed many of our traditional Scouting plans. Chili suppers and spaghetti dinners have been postponed and some Scouting activities have been put on hold. But these adjustments and changes don't have to be negative. Just ask one Kansas troop.
Leawood's Troop 10 traditionally hosts a Troop Feast for their Scouts each November. It's a time to celebrate the year's accomplishments and, of course, eat some great food with Scouting friends. But with the ongoing pandemic and with the health and safety of their Scouts in mind, the troop decided to do something a bit different this year. Instead of feeding themselves, they decided to feed their community.
They hosted the first ever "Troop 10 Feast for Friends" food drive. Their goal? To collect non-perishable food, meal kits and monetary donations for Harvesters.
Scouts gathered at the Blue Valley Recreation Center on November 15th with their masks on ready to help their community. Families, friends, and various members of the community pulled into the parking lot and dropped off their food through a contactless drive thru delivery method.
In total, the troop collected over 400 meal kits and $8,500 in monetary donations. All of this work will feed 25,684 families this holiday season.
This year’s drive was such a success that the troop has decided to adopt this as a new tradition with a goal of feeding more families next year.
In a time when plans are being canceled and life is a bit difficult, our Scouts are turning the negative aspects of canceled events into a positive by make their communities a better place.
Looking for ways your unit can help out this holiday season? Be a part of our Scouting for Food drive on November 21. It's easy for Scouts to participate and it all happens within your neighborhood. Click here to learn more.