Food Drive Community Partnership
With Covid and other current conditions this year, food for those in need has grown in all areas of the state. Further, there was a unique opportunity to partner with other community businesses and stakeholders that were first time participants. We wanted to make a great showing so that we can continue this work at the same high level in years to come.
Scouts from Troops 310 and 311 in Orangevale CA partners with Divine Savior Church and the Orangevale/Fair Oaks food bank to solicit donations of food and/or money to help the community. Further, Scout solicited door to door as well as local business for donations throughout the timeline. Bags were dropped off in target neighborhoods so donations could be given with appropriate social distancing and no contact. Food was then taken to the Church for sorting and pickup from the Food Bank.
Food insecurity in the Sacramento County is just over 20%. In 2020 food insecurity for children was 26%. There are approximately 6000 people in the area who are food insecure. The food bank serves just under 1000 people per month, and has seen a steady increase since the beginning of the year. About 27% of the recipients are children, and about 30% are over age 50.
The food drive itself was a great success. Over 19,000 lbs. of food, and over 5000 items of food collected by the Scouts. Logistically it was a bit of a challenge to get all the food over to the drop off, and trailers and like vehicles are hard to come by currently. A storage area on sight where people could drop off at any time might solve this problem, as donations are mostly nonperishable. Also partnering with a local moving company are similar are possibilities for future food drives.
