Since Nathan was in the first grade, we have been involved with Scouting. One of the activities that they do each year that we enjoy getting behind and helping with is Scouting for Food. For the past 6 years, we’ve gone out and placed bags on doorsteps and then followed up a week later to collect the donations. We then drop them off at a local food bank.

This year, Scouting for Food had a little twist for us. The troop that we recently joined, Troop 26, is very big on hiking. Each month, they do a day hike and an overnight hike. When Scouting for Food comes around, they do the food collection instead of a their day hike, but they still get their hike in.

Once the boys collect the donations, with the help of cars, trucks and SUVs, they gather back up and load up their backpacks with food. Whatever doesn’t fit, and most of it doesn’t, gets driven to the Food Bank. But the boys, in their full Class A uniforms, will hike the 2 miles from the church where they meet, to the Food Bank.

It’s great on several levels. First, the boys get exercise. Second, the boys get to experience what many others around the world do – not everybody gets to just drive down to get their food. Third, everybody who passes them, sees the boys serving the community.

This year, Troop 26 rounded up 2,281 pounds of food for the Santa Barbara Food Bank! After their hike with their loaded packs, they all received a complimentary hot dog, chips and water.

Of course, we had to grab a group photo of the Scouts and the Adult Leaders. Great job everybody!