MARQUETTE — Please consider donating directly to your local food pantry or food bank. The Scouts of the Hiawathaland District in the Upper Peninsula have worked with local Bay-Lakes Council, BSA to scale up a grassroots campaign to encourage generosity across the U.P. With food insecurity growing rapidly in our communities due to the ongoing economic downturn and pandemic protocols, this is our way of doing a community good turn.

“We are encouraging everyone in the U.P. to join us in promoting the need for people who have the means, to make financial contributions directly to the food pantry of their choice in their local community. We recognize the need is great in the Upper Peninsula and our Food Pantries need the help.” Says Patrick O’Brien, Hiawathaland District Director “We ask our Scouts to do a Good Turn Daily. We are asking everyone to join us in doing a Community Good Turn to Fight Hunger in each of our communities.”

With the annual “Scouting for Food” non-perishable food drive being postponed until the fall; this is a great way for Scouts and their families to make a difference during this time of need. Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops and Venturing Crews are asked to virtually promote a local pantry of their choice to their networks of friends and family online. Families can access our online promotion materials here, find more information and find the U.P. Food Pantry list at our website: www.baylakesbsa.org/sff/

Everyone in the community is encouraged join us in promotion on social media. Find easy to share social templates and the list of Food Pantries to chose from with the way you can best make a financial contribution to them on this Facebook event.

Please share this information widely. Unlike COVID-19, this is something we want to go viral. Thank you for helping your community.

This is another virtual Scouting at Home program that local Scouts are doing in this time of social distancing. All our Scouting at Home resources and activities are open to all families in the U.P. and can be accessed here: http://www.baylakesbsa.org/scouting-at-home/

Any questions about the Scouting in the Upper Peninsula or any Scouting event, please contact Patrick O’Brien, patrick.obrien@scouting.org.