Local Boy Scouts help feed thousands

The nation’s largest food drive is held each year when the National Association of Letter Carriers collects non-perishable donations along their postal routes in the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. In Wesley Chapel, this year’s drive got a helping hand from some local Boy Scouts.

The boys are from Troop 2 in Wesley Chapel, which meets at Atonement Lutheran Church on S.R. 54. The boys, all 11-17 years old, gathered at the local post office to help with the big job of sorting and packing food to be delivered to local food banks, pantries and shelters.

Some of the boys’ parents and other family members and friends helped, too. All of the volunteers, together, handled 16,228 pounds of food.

“The Boy Scouts of America’s slogan is ‘Do a Good Turn Daily,’” says Earle McDonald, a parent and committee member for Troop 2. “These boys went above and beyond that Saturday. The donations they helped pack will provide more than 13,000 meals to families in need in our area.”

McDonald encourages anyone who is interested in learning more about Boy Scouts to visit Scouting.org. “If a boy you know is interested in joining Troop 2,” he says, “come to one of our meetings, held Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (on S.R. 54). — CM