Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank and Hawk Mountain Council are teaming up again for the annual Scouting for Food drive, a significant community effort aimed at alleviating food insecurity in Berks and Schuylkill counties during the holiday season. Donations from the drive go directly to Helping Harvest’s network of local food pantries, supporting individuals and families in need.
Since 1987, Hawk Mountain Council has been proud to support Helping Harvest through Scouting for Food. This drive is made possible through the ongoing generosity of community members, who each year contribute essential non-perishable food items.
Last Saturday, Scouts distributed door hangers throughout local neighborhoods with instructions on how to participate. This Saturday, November 9, Scouts will return to collect donations left outside homes by 8:30 a.m., either transporting them to local drop-off sites or directly to the Helping Harvest warehouse in Spring Township.
In 2023, the Scouting for Food drive collected 47,968 pounds of food, with the help of 45 volunteers who dedicated 100 hours sorting and packaging donations on the day of the food drive. This year, Helping Harvest is calling on community members to help meet a greater need, as current food supplies are lower than last year. To volunteer or donate, visit helpingharvest.org.
Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study highlights an urgent need for food assistance in our region. In Berks County, 51,680 residents (12.1%) experience food insecurity, with rates even higher among children (16%). In Schuylkill County, 19,200 people (13.4%) and 5,050 children (17.8%) face similar struggles. Rising poverty rates and food insecurity underscore the importance of the community’s support during this time.
Helping Harvest serves as the leading provider of food assistance in Berks and Schuylkill Counties. Delivering food to more than 350 distribution sites, Helping Harvest last year provided over $19 million in food to 119,000 residents. As a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, Helping Harvest is committed to fighting hunger and ensuring that no one in our community goes without food.