March 28, 2010

Scouting for Food Collects 159,041 Pounds of Food to Feed the Hungry

Milwaukee, Wis.-  Thousands of Boy Scouts went door to door in Milwaukee, Waukesha and Racine counties today collecting food in an effort to help feed the hungry.  The Milwaukee County Boy Scouts collected 159,041 pounds of food for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.  Last year, the Boy Scouts collected 158,282 pounds of food.  Since 1987, the Milwaukee County Boy Scouts have collected more than three million pounds of food for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

The food was boxed up at eight local collection points throughout southeastern Wisconsin and then volunteer drivers from Schneider National Trucking delivered the boxes to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.  The food will be distributed to Milwaukee County food pantries, meal programs and shelters.  “We are thankful to have such a wonderful partner in the Boy Scouts.  Not only are these boys learning about giving back to the community, but they’re also helping to feed their hungry neighbors,” said Bonnie Bellehumeur, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. 

This food drive is particularly important because according to a recent study, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is serving 40% more people than four years ago.  330,000 people, including 105,000 children, rely on food from Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for their next meal. 

If the Boy Scouts didn’t make it to your house or if you would still like to contribute to the food drive, you can make a donation of nonperishable food items at your local Pick ‘n Save store through

April 4.  Please place your donation in the Boy Scout food drive barrel near the checkout. 

Scouting for food is sponsored by Pick ‘n Save, Schneider National Trucking, US Corrugated, Waste Management, MATCO Distributors, Wisconsin Lift Truck, Don & Judy Christl Family Trust and Ned’s Pizza.

 

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330,000 people in eastern Wisconsin rely on food supplied by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (formerly named America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin).  The food bank is the largest, private, nonprofit distributor of food in the state. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distributes 12 million pounds of food annually to 1,100 food pantries, meal programs and shelters throughout eastern Wisconsin.  Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is affiliated with Feeding America, formerly named America’s Second Harvest, which is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient charities, out of the country’s 100 largest charities, by Forbes magazine.  Since 1982, America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin has distributed more than 250 million pounds of food.  To learn more about hunger in Wisconsin, visit www.feedingamericawi.org