SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Boy Scouts from the Arrowhead District collected 7,812 pounds at local Stater Bros. Markets. The almost four tons of food was donated to The Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Citadel Corps. for the holiday season food drive.

“That is a lot of food, and we are glad to have it,” said Lt. Cathie McCulley, integrated missions’ coordinator. “We use this food primarily in the food boxes we give to area families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

In December, the San Bernardino Corps assembles Christmas food baskets for about 500 local families. Nonperishable food donations received from the Boy Scouts were included in those baskets along with a $15 gift card to Stater Bros. for a Turkey.

The food also supplements The Salvation Amy’s daily meal program, including special holiday meals served on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

This year The Boy Scouts collected 7,812 pounds of food. The Boy Scouts have collected more than 60 tons of food for The Salvation Army and other charities with meal programs during he last 10 years.

“There are a lot of needy people out there, so hopefully it will help,” said Arrowhead District Scouting for Food Coordinator Denise Wampole. “Scouting instills the ideals of helping others at all times in our young men.”

“To ask customers of Stater Bros to purchase nonperishable food items and then donate them on their way out of the store is a perfect project for scouts of all ages. It is so rewarding for the scouts to fill the shopping carts with the donations and at the end of the day fill a truck or two! We look forward to continuing this partnership with Stater Bros. and the Salvation Army for many years to come,” said Wampole.

Boy Scouts from San Bernardino, Rialto, Colton, Highland, Grand Terrace, and Bloomington collected food. They were participating in a nationwide event the Boy Scouts of America calls “Scouting for Food.”

“Each Scouting for Food drive benefits a local charity. For instance, not only did troops from San Bernardino and nearby communities collect food for the Salvation Army, a troop from Lake Arrowhead that is part of the same Arrowhead District as those helping The Salvation Army collected food for a shelter in Blue Jay,” said Wampole.

“One of Scouting’s legacy is helping others at all times,” said District Director, Tracy Youden of the Arrowhead District Boy Scouts.

“’Do a Good Turn Daily’ is learned from the time a boy enters as a kindergarten Cub Scout and is carried on in the older boy programs in Boy Scouting and then in our co-ed teen programs Venturing and Exploring. The Scouting for Food program is just one example of how our Scouting community branches out to help others,” said Youden.

For more information on The Boys Scouts call (909) 793-2463 or go online to http://www.scouting.org .

For help, or for more information call The Salvation Army at (909) 888-1336. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY.

About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army provides emergency services including food; lodging for homeless or displaced families; clothing and furniture; assistance with rent or mortgage and transportation when funds are available. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) assists rescue workers and evacuees in such disasters as fires and earthquakes.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has served San Bernardino since 1887, supporting those in need without discrimination. The San Bernardino Corps of The Salvation Army serves Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto, and San Bernardino. Donations may always be made online at www.salvationarmyusa.org or by calling 1-(800)-SAL-ARMY. Our local number is (909) 888-1336.