Scouts collecting record amounts of much needed food

After record collections the last two years, local Cub Scout packs 141 and 142 and Boy Scout Troop 147 have been conducting their annual food drive this month for the Nutley Food Pantry.

Nutley Scouts collected more than 80,000 items the past two years for the food pantry according to Walt Smith, Pack 141 chairman and chairman of the project.

“This is always an exhausting day, but a great way to teach the Scouts, especially the young Cub Scouts the meaning of helping others,” Smith said.

The food pantry at the Family Service Bureau in Nutley, 169 Chestnut St., is one of the largest in Essex County, according to a press release from the Scouts, which said personal care items for the care pantry at Vincent United Methodist Church will also be accepted by Scouts.

Suggestions for food donations are: stew, chili, hash, tuna, soups, chunky soups, pasta, pasta sauce, rice mixes, macaroni and cheese, canned vegetables, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, hot/cold cereal, coffee, tea, baby formula/food and ShopRite gift cards.

The pantry accepts all non-perishable groceries, but not expired cans, so please check expiration dates before donating items. Cans and plastic jars are easier to handle than glass jars. The need this time of the year is especially great, according to Peggy Conca, Nutley Family Service Bureau pantry manager.

During March, the local pantry served more than 350 families and nearly 1,000 people including many children and seniors. More than 3,500 food items were required.

The campaign was launched on "Bag Distribution Day" earlier this month when

Scouts distributed bags to residences in Nutley. The Scouts return to residences at a later day, "Bag Collection Day," to retrieve the bags filled with donated nonperishable items.

The Scouts will be depositing the collected bags at Nutley Masonic Lodge 175 Chestnut St. on April 29, between 10:30 a.m and 3 p.m. Trader Joe’s donated more than 10,000 bags for use in the drive.

Scouts will also be outside Nutley Park ShopRite on Saturday, April 29, to accept donations from grocery shoppers. After April 29, donations may be dropped off at the Nutley Family Service Bureau Annex, 169 Chestnut St.

“We are tremendously grateful for the continued support that the Nutley Scouts and community members provide to programs like the Nutley Family Service Bureau’s Food Pantry,” said Katherine Carmichael, executive director of the Nutley Family Service Bureau. “The Food Pantry relies on donations from this project to stock our shelves. Year after year the Scouts and those who donate help to keep the pantry going to support our neighbors in need.”

Carmichael said anyone in need of food assistance should speak to a staff member at 973-667-1884 or read more about the program on our website at www.nutleyfamily.org.

Scouting for Food is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Scouting for Food began as a service project for the St. Louis Area Council in 1985 and was adopted by the National Organization in 1988 when one million Scouts collected an estimated 65 million cans of nonperishable food. This year marks the 35th year of the event.