Scouts unload groceries

KINGSTON – Boy Scouts collected over 70,000 food items Saturday as part of their annual Scouting For Food drive.

A total of 35 local food pantries have benefited from the project to help stock their shelves for the holiday season.

The Rip Van Winkle Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Kingston were assisting in the sorting and packaging at the United Parcel Service facility in Ulster.        

Over 100 volunteers who helped the Scouts pack food for delivery came from the Salvation Army, Kiwanis Club of Kingston, Lowe’s Home Improvement staff, Peoples Place, Kingston Key Club, UPS drivers and families, Queen’s Galley, Ulster County Community Action, Old Dutch Church, Ship 609, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen and Catsbaan Church.

During the past year Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and Explorers from the Rip Van Winkle Council participated in over 25,000 hours of community service.