TVF&R is taking part in the Boy Scouts of America Scouting for Food drive this holiday season. The drive is recognized as the last major food drive of the year for northwest Oregon and southwest Washington area emergency food agencies. It is anticipated that 10,000 local Scouts will go door-to-door to collect an estimated 500,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable food for those in need.
Each year in the Portland Metropolitan area, the Boy Scouts of America (Cascade Pacific Council), along with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Portland Fire and Rescue and 40 other volunteer agencies collect food to provide for households in need. Last year, these agencies provided food for approximately 10,000 families; unfortunately, there are more that need help this year.
In Oregon, 1 in 5 of our neighbors is experiencing hunger. High unemployment and growing foreclosures forced a record number of people in Oregon and Clark County, Wash., to seek emergency food assistance this year. Distribution of emergency food boxes has skyrocketed to historic highs with increases of more than 14 percent from 792,000 in 2007-08 to 897,000 in 2008-09 – an annual increase of 105,000 additional emergency food boxes.
Throughout the day Saturday December 5th, Scouts will collect food from local residents, then take donations to nearby drop-sites where items are distributed to local food agencies. In some neighborhoods Scouts may drop off a white bag a week prior to Saturday, December 5th to allow more time for residents to fill bags with food donations. However, Scouts may simply show up at doorsteps and request donations on Saturday morning. Items most needed are non-perishable canned and packaged foods such as meat, soups, stews, fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, beans, lentils, peanut butter, tuna, and baby food.
Anyone can participate in the Scouting for Food event by dropping non-perishable food items such as peanut butter, soups, canned meats, pastas and canned vegetables at the following TVF&R locations on December 5th:
Station 61 – 13730 SW Butner Rd, Beaverton
Station 51 – 8935 SW Burnham Rd, Tigard
Station 50 – 12617 SW Walnut St, Tigard
Station 33 – 15440 SW Oregon St, Sherwood
