Historical February–March 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Cub Scouts from Pack 98 collected hundreds of pounds of food from Skinker-DeBaliviere residents during the 2007 Scouting for Food drive held this past November.
The 22 boys from Pack 98 were among the more than 30,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers who helped to collect over 2 million cans of food for area food banks.
On November 10, the boys went door-to-door to distribute bags throughout Skinker-DeBaliviere.
They were led by Pack 98 den leaders Kerry McEvoy, Rachel Boxdorfer and Karen Shaughnessy and Pack Master Norb Hart, and accompanied by their parents and siblings.
The Pack was assigned the area bounded by DeBaliviere to the east through Parkview to the west, and from Forest Park Parkway north to Delmar.
The Scouts, who are all students attending St. Roch School, returned the following Saturday to collect bags filled with canned goods and other non-perishables.
They took the donations to Engine House No. 29 located at Vandeventer and Forest Park Parkway. Scout leaders from several Boy Scout Troops, along with area food bank volunteers, sorted hundreds of cans of chili, soups, meats, tuna, vegetables, fruits and sauces, as well as pasta, rice and evaporated milk.
The food was transported to the St. Louis Area Food Bank for distribution at more than 480 food pantries throughout eastern Missouri and southwest Illinois.
The St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America organizes Scouting for Food, the nation’s single-day food drive, because the event teaches youths the value of helping others. “I knew that we were giving food to people and it gave me happiness inside,” says eightyear-old Charlie McGroarty, a Wolf Member in Den 1 of Pack 98 and a resident of 61XX McPherson. Scouts take an oath to “do my best at all times” and Pack 98 certainly did their best this year.
According to Paul Winters, the leader of Troop 98, which is also chartered at St. Roch School, Pack 98 collected 360 boxes worth of food, about 50 more than in 2006. “The Troop is thrilled to have their help and participation in the Scouting for Food effort,” says Winters. “They took the initiative to extend the area to Parkview this year, and their efforts helped increase the yield at our station.” The overall 2007 collection was 5.6 percent larger than last year’s drive based on information released by the St. Louis Area Council Boy Scouts of America. 2007 marked the 23rd year of this St. Louis tradition. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts participate in fun activities and service projects throughout the year.
If a boy from the area wishes to get involved in scouting at the Boy Scout level (ages 11 and older), he and a parent can stop by a troop meeting and talk with Winters. Troop 98 meets Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the gym at St. Roch. Parents of interested boys ages 7-10 should call the Greater St. Louis Council Headquarters at (314) 361-0600.
Original photograph caption
(Back Row) Elia Barker, Eric Webster, Joe Schwartz, Mitchell Stephens, Ian Shaugnessy, William Kramer (Middle Row) Matt Grady, Nolan Lodholz, Gavin Mc Evoy, Max Friesen, Owen Shaugnessy, William Jefferson (Front Row) Christian Boxdorfer, Donovan Hill, Ian Intagliata, Spencer Harvey, Jack Krone, Karl Lodholz, Anton Gudiswitz, Zachary Harris (Not Pictured: Charlie Mc Groarty)
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2008_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
