Scouting For Food Drive Fills Bank Bins

Boy Scouts knocked on doors in Middletown at 9 a.m. Saturday to remind residents that they were there to pick up bags of food for the annual food drive.

Most of the 100,000 bags distributed last week came back full Saturday, said Ed McDonough.

"The food banks in the county were right on from last year," he said.

Collections were slightly lower in Frederick city, but last year was a banner year, McDonough said.

Altogether, 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of food was collected by the day's end, said Sarah McAleavy, food and nutrition coordinator for the Frederick Community Action Agency, which helped with the food drive.

The annual Scouting for Food Drive is part of a national program sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America, she said.

The eight participating food banks in Frederick County are in Frederick , Jefferson , Thurmont , Brunswick , Middletown , Emmitsburg , Walkersville and Knoxville, McDonough said.

The city's food bank is at 14 E. All Saints St. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts brought the food to the loading dock.

"It was piled up on the ground. It went all the way to the top of the loading dock," McDonough said.

Cereals, vegetables, rice, beans, dried potatoes, and lots of macaroni and cheese were among the top items donated, she said.

Ed McDonough, scouting director for the Catoctin Mountain area, described the loading dock at noon as a "Mount Everest of food bags."

Scouts were bringing the food inside, he said. Police were watching the streets and managing the traffic.

"The Latter-day Saints Church helped sort the bags," he said.

McDonough's day started at 7 a.m. He headed out then to meet one of the Cub Scout packs. They went to Fort Detrick, he said.

"We were able to get about two truckloads," he said. "The Fort Detrick community really does give to the community."

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