Boy Scouts need your help in fighting hunger in Southeastern Idaho

Close to 50,000 people in Southeastern Idaho are food insecure, according to the Idaho Food Bank. But the Boy Scouts of America are trying to help these people by holding their annual “Scouting for Food” event on Saturday morning.

Scouts will canvas neighborhoods all across Southeastern Idaho picking up canned food items the community has set out for this event. They hope to collect close to half a million cans of food to donate to local food banks in the area.

“Tomorrow we will be picking up food stuffs, from peoples doorsteps. So if you have it out by 9 a.m. in the morning the boys will come around and pick it up. Try and not to hide it, because you know you would probably do a good job. So just make sure it is in plain view,” said Dan Deakin, the South Council District Director for the Boy Scouts of America.

While the scouts will be hitting most areas in Southeastern Idaho, including places like Salmon and Preston, the food collected will likely stay in the community that it was picked up in.

“The food the Boy Scouts collect stays in the local communities as much as possible. So the food collected in Pocatello will mostly come here [Idaho Food Bank in Pocatello] and then we distribute it to agencies,” said Jim Beitz, the Eastern Idaho branch manager for the Idaho Food Bank. “If it is collected in Preston then it will stay in Preston. If it is in Blackfoot it will stay in Blackfoot,” he added.

If you live in Southeastern Idaho and would like to participate in this food drive, simply leave canned food items outside of your house in a visible place. Boy Scouts will be making their rounds throughout the area to pick up items on Saturday morning around 9 a.m.