The Complete Guide to Scouting for Food
Scouting for Food is a powerful community service initiative that gives Scouts a hands-on way to fight hunger in their neighborhoods while living out the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Whether going door-to-door or partnering with a local grocery store, this project teaches compassion, teamwork, and the impact of service.
The Door-to-Door Model
The dates for 2026 at April 11th thru April 18th.: one weekend for distributing door hangers or bags and the following weekend for collecting the food. Units should coordinate with their local district or council to confirm any official dates or obtain materials like patches, flyers, or branded door hangers. It’s also essential to contact the Scouting for Food coordinator to discuss drop-off logistics. Next, units should define a coverage area, dividing neighborhoods or streets among patrols or dens to avoid duplication.
Promotion begins four to six weeks before the event. Scouts, leaders, and families should promote the food drive through flyers, social media, and community boards. Schools, chartered organizations, and local media can help amplify the message. During troop or pack meetings, leaders should educate Scouts about food insecurity and how their efforts will directly help people in need. This builds enthusiasm and helps Scouts see the connection between service and community impact.
About two to three weeks before distribution, units should prepare materials. This includes collecting door hangers, safety vests, maps of assigned routes, and any needed signage or thank-you notes. On the designated distribution day, Scouts—wearing their uniforms—should head out in small groups, following assigned routes and placing hangers on doors. They should not knock or ring doorbells unless previously arranged. It’s important to track which areas have been covered to ensure thoroughness.
Collection day, April 18th, 2026, is the most active part of the drive. Scouts should work in pairs or groups under adult supervision, especially when working near traffic. Wagons or bins help transport donations efficiently. Units should keep a rough tally of the amount collected before delivering everything to the food pantry. Don’t forget to log the service hours.
After the event, units should take time to recognize everyone’s efforts. Celebrate the number of pounds or items collected, and share stories or photos in newsletters and social media posts. Recognize Scouts with service hours, patches, or certificates. A thank-you message should be sent to community partners, and a post-event evaluation with feedback from leaders and Scouts can help identify improvements for the following year.
The Grocery Store Model
An increasingly popular alternative to the door-to-door method is setting up at local grocery stores. This version works well in urban or high-traffic areas and offers great public visibility. Planning begins four to six weeks ahead by contacting local store managers to request permission to host a food collection event outside the store. It’s helpful to explain that this is part of a national service initiative, and not a fundraiser. Offer flexible scheduling options and discuss any store-specific guidelines, such as whether Scouts are allowed to hand flyers directly to customers or must remain at a table.
Once a store agrees to host the drive, units can begin preparing materials. These typically include tables, chairs, pop-up tents for weather protection, donation bins or boxes, and large signs. Flyers or shopping list handouts are a great way to let customers know what types of items to buy. Signage should clearly state the purpose of the drive, the unit’s name, and donation suggestions like canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, or toiletries. Scouts should be in uniform and ideally work in pairs or small groups for visibility and safety. Two-hour shifts tend to work well, and adult leaders should always be present to supervise and assist.
On the day of the food drive, arrive early to set up and organize the collection area. Scouts can be assigned as greeters to hand out flyers, collectors to accept donations, and sorters to keep the bins orderly. Throughout the day, Scouts should be friendly, enthusiastic, and polite—thanking people whether they donate or not. Tallying the number of donations, taking pictures (with permission), and maintaining a visible presence all contribute to the drive’s success. Some stores may even allow customers to purchase pre-packed donation bags for convenience.
Afterward, food donations should be taken to the designated donation site. As with the door-to-door model, it’s helpful record totals for reporting and recognition. Be sure to thank the store manager and staff with a note or public acknowledgment, and share the outcome with your unit and the broader community. Recognize Scouts for their service and reflect on what went well and what could be improved.
Both models offer meaningful opportunities for Scouts to give back to their community. Whether your unit chooses to canvass neighborhoods or host a collection at a store, Scouting for Food teaches valuable lessons about citizenship, gratitude, and leadership. With good planning and Scout spirit, your food drive can make a lasting difference.
The Council Sponsored Food Pickup Date is April 18th, 2026!
Door Hanger Day is April 8th. Donations should be placed out before 8:30am on Saturday, April 18th. Please collect donations after 9am and deliver them to a collection site before 11am. Scouts are asked to wear their Class A uniform, and to be courteous while performing this task. Be respectful of private property and avoid collecting non-donated items if possible. Above all else, please be safe out there!
Westmoreland Food Bank Trucks
Westmoreland Food Bank
100 Devonshire Dr
Delmont, PA 15626
Harrold Zion Lutheran Church
Greensburg, PA 15601
St. Agnes Catholic Church
Irwin, PA 15642
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Latrobe, PA 15650
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
Greensburg, PA 15601
Westmoreland-Fayette Council Service Center
2 Garden Center Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601
Penske Trucks
Holy Trinity Parish
Ligonier, PA 15658
Mt. Pleasant Church of God
Mt Pleasant, PA 15666
Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church
Murrysville, PA 15668
Door Hanger Day is April 11th. The best time to place door hangers for a Scouting for Food drive is the weekend before the scheduled food collection. This ensures that residents have enough time to see the notice, purchase non-perishable food items, and set them out for pickup. Ideally, Scouts should distribute the door hangers on Saturday morning, when most people are home and more likely to notice them. Avoid placing them too early, as they may be forgotten, or too late, as people may not have enough time to participate.
