Since 1985, the Scouting for Food program has been an organized effort to do just that, help serve our neighbors in need. The methods have remained relatively constant- bags are hung on doors on the First Saturday of November and then picked up full of food on the following Saturday and returned to various depots throughout our service area. Literally, millions of pounds of food have been collected by Scouts to help feed those in need.

This year, as more and more Americans are in need of assistance, we as Boy Scouts have a duty and obligation to work even harder in fulfilling this need. We have many great suggestions to support your efforts, and you will find these on the enclosed flyer "Scouting for Food- Best Practices 2013". Also included in this packet are the patch order form and details on where to obtain bags and where they can be returned.

With over 100,000 people in Berks and Schuylkill Counties qualifying for food assistance, with 12% of these populations living in poverty- which represents nearly 22,000 children, we ask you to join us in working hard and raising this year's collection levels to an all time high! Please join us in supporting this campaign, and by collecting more food than ever before.

Yours in Scouting,

Bob Rippley, AWI

Scouting for Food Chairman

Brian Beddow

Scouting for Food Advisor