Press Photos by Sarah TakacsLocal Scouts participated in the annual Scouting for Food effort to help their communities by collecting food donations to benefit those in need. According to the Scouting America website, the program started in 1985 in St. Louis, Miss., as a Troop service project and became a national effort in 1988. ABOVE: Scouts in Troop 146 and Cub Pack 146 package and weigh food as part of the annual Scouting for Food campaign recently.

Eastern Salisbury Fire Department offers the necessary space to package and weigh more than 2,000 pounds of donated food.

Food donations are sorted into categories and weighed for accuracy. Donated items included nonperishable food items such as breakfast cereal, pasta, canned goods and peanut butter.

According to the website, Scouting for Food involves two consecutive weekends. On the first weekend, Scouts distribute notices about the drive along with collection bags to neighbors and friends. The following weekend the Scouts return to collect filled bags. Collected donations are then distributed to local food banks and shelters.

Food donations share space with Eastern Salisbury Fire Department fire equipment and safety gear. The fire department bay offers room for tables to sort and package donations.

Scouts and Cub Scouts work together to prepare and package donations for the Scouting for Food project.