The annual Scouting For Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 9 comes just as Arlington’s Food Assistance Center has hit an all time high of 4,000 families receiving supplemental groceries in one week. In addition, the count of families being referred for AFAC resources also hit an all time high of almost 6,700 referrals. AFAC projects that if this rate continues, they will distribute groceries to 4,400 families during the annual Turkey Week of Nov. 18-23.

Households who have received a Scouting for Food sticker on their front door in recent days will have Boy Scouts in their neighborhoods on Saturday, Nov. 9 collecting non-perishable food items (no glass please) left by the front door. Residents are asked to leave their donations out by 8:30 a.m. that day.

This national effort was begun in 1985 by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. It takes place across the country in November or December, and the items collected are donated to their local pantry which in Arlington is AFAC. AFAC’s most requested items include low sugar and low sodium items, canned tuna, soups, vegetables and tomatoes as well as peanut butter in plastic jars and cereal. Additional items for the holiday season include sugar, flour, cooking oil and coffee. 

Charlie Meng, AFAC’s Chief Executive Officer in the recent monthly newsletter said, “The rising demand is a call to action—we depend on the continued generosity of our supporters to keep up with the increasing number of families coming to our door. Every donation we receive makes a difference in the lives of those who need it the most.” 

AFAC is an independent community-based non-profit food pantry that provides nutritious supplemental groceries to those in need at 21 distribution sites. They receive only 7 percent of their annual budget from Arlington County and rely heavily on contributions from the community, businesses and faith-based organizations to meet their budget. 

<1b>— Shirley Ruhe