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Scouting for Food
Making a Difference in Arizona Communities
Did you know that one in six Arizonans and one in four Arizona youth experience food insecurity? This means they lack consistent access to nutritious food or cannot provide enough for their entire household. Each spring, following the holiday season, donations to Arizona food banks reach their lowest levels.
Scouting for Food is Scouting Arizona, Grand Canyon Council’s service program to combat hunger in our neighborhoods. As part of Scouting America’s initiative, Good Turn for America, this project demonstrates the power of Scouts working together to support local food banks and pantries. For any questions about Scouting for Food, please reach out to Scouting Arizona at gcc.program@scoutingaz.org
Here’s how it works:
It’s easy for Scouts to participate, and it all happens right in your neighborhood! Follow these 3 steps to get started:
Step 1: Distribute Flyers and Collect Food
Beginning in January: Scouts, in uniform and accompanied by their unit leader and parent volunteers, distribute door hangers (flyers) requesting donations to be placed outside for pickup (often the following Saturday). This is done in a safe manner following the Guide to Safe Scouting. Afterward, units return to collect the non-perishable food items and drop off at the unit’s agreed-upon collection location, such as a local food bank.
Step 2: Drop-Off Food
After collecting all donations in your neighborhood, drop off the non-perishable food items at your local food bank or the unit’s agreed-upon collection location. Click here to find a food bank near you.
Step 3: Report Results
Be sure to record your service hours and the number of pounds of food collected by your unit for a job well done! These results are included in our Impact Report service hours each year. Submit your 2025 service hour totals at https://247scouting.com/forms/010-SFOOD2025
Bonus Step: Let Us Celebrate Your Efforts!
We want to celebrate your hard work! Email us the details of your unit’s Scouting for Food drive, including:
• Photos of the event
• Total number of pounds of food collected
• Which food bank you submitted donations to
• The number of Scouts and adults/leaders who participated
We would love to give your unit a big shout-out on our social media and in the monthly newsletter to highlight the great things our Scouts are doing! Email your information directly to our Marketing Assistant, at Tarryn.Hutchison@scoutingaz.org.
Resources for a Successful Campaign
To make your service program campaign as efficient and impactful as possible, we’ve assembled the following resources for unit leaders and Scouts. Let’s show Arizona the power of Scouting in 2025!
- Understanding Hunger in Arizona: Learn about the impact of food insecurity and the urgent need for support.
- Scouting for Food Door Hanger:
- Scouting America Resources: Access images, logos, social media assets, a content calendar, and more.
Check back regularly for new additions to enhance your Scouting For Food toolkit.
Partnered Food Banks
United Food Bank
Drop-Off Location: 358 E Javelina Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210, Phone: 480-926-4897
Drop-Off Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For alternative drop-off times or to arrange box pickups, please call or email United Food Bank directly.
Most Needed Items: Cereals and oatmeal, Chili, soups, and stews, Canned tuna or chicken, Peanut butter, Beans, Canned vegetables and fruit, Canned or dried milk, Canned tomato products, Rice and pasta. Please Note: No glass jars, baby food, or open food items.
Local Food Banks
United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank serve as major distribution centers, redistributing donations to smaller food pantries across the state. These larger centers are better equipped to handle and store large donations efficiently. We encourage you to deliver your donations to United Food Bank or St. Mary’s Food Bank whenever possible, as they are well-prepared to redistribute food to smaller pantries. If your pack or troop is far from these locations, you’re welcome to contact local food pantries directly.
Important Tips:
- Contact your chosen food bank during the planning stages to confirm their availability for receiving donations.
- Many food banks and pantries are not open on weekends and may only accept deliveries on weekdays.
- Verify the types of food they can accept, as some locations may have specific storage limitations.
Click here to find a food bank near you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Scouting for Food provides Scouts with a meaningful opportunity to give back to their community. By collecting food for those in need, Scouts live out the Scout Oath to “help other people at all times.” This service project teaches Scouts the value of participatory citizenship and shows them the positive impact they can have on others. It also helps Scouts feel proud of being part of something bigger than themselves and allows them to contribute to their community in a meaningful way.
As one Scout shared, “It feels good, because you’re helping somebody.” Scouting for Food not only highlights the power of Scouting, but it also demonstrates to others that Scouting is about developing character and making a difference, both locally and beyond.
Units can participate in Scouting for Food in a variety of ways. The individual unit will decide which methods to use, but here are some ideas for collecting donations:
→ Door-to-door collection: Units can target specific areas and go door-to-door, either one weekend or during regular meeting hours. Scouts leave a flyer requesting donations to be placed outside for pick up the following Saturday. The Scouts can return to collect the food.
→ Neighborhood collections: Individual Scouts can visit 4-5 of their neighbors to collect food.
→ Collection boxes: Scouts can place collection boxes at their chartering organization, religious institution, or school. With permission, they can also give a short presentation about the importance of Scouting for Food and its impact on helping those in need.
→ Scout Sunday/Sabbath/Jumuah activities: Some units combine their Scout Sunday or other religious activities with a canned food drive during services and announce the collection the prior week.
→ Workplace collections: Parents or guardians can place collection boxes at their workplace and encourage coworkers to donate food.
These approaches can be used individually or combined for the most effective food drive!
Safety First: Safety is always a key focus during Distribution and Collection Days. Units will be accompanied by their Scout leader and parent volunteers to ensure a safe experience for all participants. Please be sure to follow the Guide to Safe Scouting throughout the collection and distribution process.
Food Collection and Delivery: Units will return to collect donations from doorsteps and deliver them to local food banks and pantries. This typically happens on the First Saturday of February. For information on Partnered Food Banks, check out our details or contact the food banks directly to confirm drop-off times or arrange box pickups.
Submit Your Service Hours: Be sure to record your service hours for a job well done. Once your unit has completed the food collection and delivery process, submit your service hour totals below to ensure your efforts are officially recognized. Scouting for Food results are included in our Impact Report service hours each year, and your unit is a part of that impact! Your contributions play a significant role in showing how Scouts make a difference in their communities. Submit your 2025 service hour totals at https://247scouting.com/forms/010-SFOOD2025
Participants should collect non-perishable food items. The best types of food to collect include:
- Beans (pinto, refried)
- Canned vegetables
- Canned soups, chili, and stews
- Peanut Butter
- Meat and meat alternatives (canned tuna, chicken)
- Rice and pasta
- Canned or dried milk
- Cereal and oatmeal