HERE AGAIN IS ANOTHER STORY ABOUT THE GOODNESS IN VERO BEACH THAT SELDOM GETS REPORTED.
We recently received this email from Bianca Varas, Assistant Cub Pack Master, Pack 530 in Vero Beach.
“I have a question. I am part of the Cub Scout Pack 530 here in Vero Beach.
There is a lot of good community work the kids do but I have not seen it in the news or reports about it in any local media.
Currently in November we are doing Souting for food on the first two Saturdays of the month. We basically collect food and everything is donated to the local Salvation Army.
This is a huge deed that Cubs from 1st grade to 5th grade are doing with help from their parents and local Boy Scout troops. Is there any way you can help us get the word out about this positive news in our community?
Thank you in advance for talking a moment to read this message.
Bianca Varas
Assistant Cub Pack Master, Pack 530
Vero Beach, FL
772-538-4878
Bianca_varas@yahoo.com”
Well, of course.
Children in Pack 530 passing out bags to collect food for the Salvation Army.
This is the way it worked.
The Scouting for Food 2016 collection drive began on November 5th, 2016, when Pack 530 scouts distributed customized bags, shown above, to households throughout local neighborhoods. These specially designed plastic bags informed the public of the types of food needed and where to place the donated food bags for collection. They were placed on door knobs and other places the household would see them, but not in mailboxes.
Here it began, with scouts, parents and volunteers getting their assignments.
After getting their assignments, the scouts set out to distribute the food bags.
The scouts walked in groups of two using a buddy system with parents and volunteers driving as close to the boys as possible so they were adequately supervised.
Then on November 12th, the scouts returned to their assigned territories, once again adequately supervised, to collect the food and then to turn it into their collection center. If the bag with the food was not on the doorstep, porch or hanging on the door, the scouts were allowed to knock on the door to see if the household had a donation; but in no event were they allowed to enter the house.
This year Pack 530 had a major challenge, which was to achieve a goal of 20,000 pounds of food.
You see Pack 530 is a District within the Gulf Stream Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
The Gulf Stream Council has six Districts:
- Everglades (South and Central Palm Beach County)
- Treasure Coast (St. Lucie County)
- Indian River County (Pack 530)
- Big Lake (Bell Glade, Clewiston and Okeechobee)
- Light House (Central and Palm Beach Counties)
- Sailfish (Martin County)
Last year the Gulf Stream Council scouts (all six districts) collected roughly than 68,000 pounds of food, which was provided to local families. This year, (2016) more than ever, the Council emphasized that local agencies and communities were in need of more help. So they set a goal for this year is to collect 150,000 pounds of food—nearly three times the amount of last year because the need is so great.
Pack 530 in Vero Beach had a goal of 20,000 pounds.
According to Karen Helstrom, Gulf Stream Council Chair, “Scouting for Food not only provides items for local food banks, but offers an opportunity for scouts to become involved in community service. It is the largest door-to-door food collection effort in our seven counties. Thousands of scouts are expected to participate in this year’s Scouting for Food drive.
We greatly appreciate your humanitarian efforts. It is important that scouts realize their Good Turn provides local families with a gift that will be greatly treasured and remembered for their effort to help those most in need. I know our scouts will ‘Do Their Best’ and make this year a great success.”
Vero Communiqué 