Cub Scout Pack 805 organizes food drive

By Ed Pierce

The father of scouting, Robert Baden-Powell once wrote that a scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. With that in mind, Windham Cub Scout Pack 805 will be conducting a food drive at the Shaw’s Supermarket in Windham to assist those in need.

Members of Windham Cub Scouts Pack 805 will conduct a
food drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at
Shaw's Supermarket, 770 Roosevelt Trail, in Windham.
Known as 'Scouting for Food,' the initiative will benefit
the Windham Food Pantry and St. Ann's Episcopal Church
Essentials Pantry. This year's theme is "Fill the Boat,' with
a boat on hand to hold all donations before delivery.
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, Cub Scouts Pack 805 will be leading a food drive at Shaws, located at 770 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. The initiative is known as "Scouting for Food" and every item collected will benefit the Windham Food Pantry and the St. Ann's Episcopal Church Essentials Pantry.

This year's Scouting for Food theme is "Fill the Boat," with a boat on hand to hold all donations prior to delivery.

Josh Smeltzer of Cub Scouts Pack 805 says participating in the food drive instills character, citizenship, personal fitness and leadership in young scouts.

"One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food,” Smeltzer said. “The aims of Cub Scouts Pack 805 are character, citizenship, personal fitness, and leadership. One way Pack 805 does this is through teaching kids how to not only respect and safely enjoy the outdoors but also respect and give back to their country and their community through projects like Scouting for Food.”

He said that joining the Cub Scouts is the first step in a journey to become a responsible citizen who cares about their neighbors and the community.

Smeltzer said 2026 marks the 41st anniversary of the national Scouting for Food program. It was launched in 1981 as an Eagle Scout Project by Christopher DuBois of Boy Scout Troop 643 in St. Ann, Missouri, and the program was officially implemented as a council-wide project of the Boy Scouts of America, Great Saint Louis Area Council, in 1985.

In 1988, Boy Scouts of America (now Scouting America) adopted the program, rolling it out nationwide, Smeltzer said.

Both the Windham Food Pantry and St. Ann's are in need of canned vegetables and meats, fresh fruit and vegetables, pancake, cookie and muffin mixes, pasta and rice, prepared meals like Hamburger Helper, cold and hot cereal, peanut butter, jelly, and bottled water and juices, he said.

“Thank you for your help this giving season,” Smeltzer said.

Cash donations and gift cards will also be accepted during the Nov. 14 food drive at Shaws.

For more information about Windham Cub Scout Pack 805, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.beascout.org. <