Boy Scouts Drive Food To Salvation Army
Tera Snow of Highland Donates a bag of canned goods to the Boy Scouts, while at the East Highland store on Highland Ave. Photo by Richardo Tomboc
13 Boy Scout troops from San Bernardino, Rialto, Colton, Highland, Grand Terrace, and Bloomington helped collect food for The Salvation Army’s San Bernardino Corps. They participated the Boy Scouts of America nationwide event called “Scouting for Food.”
“The food collected during this Food Drive will help feed hundreds of people this holiday season in Bloomington, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Rialto, and San Bernardino,” said Major Stephen Ball of the Salvation Army’s San Bernardino office.
Arrowhead District Boy Scout Troop 1 and Cub Scout Pacts 1, 20, & 14 were out in full force at the Stater Bros. located on 977 Kendall Drive in San Bernardino.
West Highland Stater Bros. SB: Troop 836 SB Elks Lodge Front row: Alejandro Padilla, Carlos Rivas, Jovanni Bello, Jennifer Lister (Scout Master) Back row: Bryan Padilla Jordan Padilla. photo by Richardo Tomboc
Alvarez’s job is to organize and work with all church leaders, scout leaders, scout committee members, and administrative staff.
“I feel fabulous,” said Alverez when asked about how she felt donating her time to perform such a great service.
A core element of being a Boy Scout is growth and learning new skills, said Alvarez. “We teach Scouting skills, we teach life skills and it’s definitely character building.”
Joanne Macdonald, left, smiles at Victor Butler, Jr. Victor Butler, Jr., a 10-year-old scout from Pact 1, volunteered his time to help The Salvation Army feed the hungry. “I volunteered to help people that have no home, and don’t have any food,” said Butler. Photo by Paul Martinez
His current ranking in the Scouts is Webelos, which stands for “We’ll be loyal scouts,” said Butler. He joined the Boy Scouts because he thought he would enjoy it and says, “I’m enjoying it a lot.”
“I volunteered to help people that have no home, and don’t have any food,” said Butler. His father, Victor Butler, Sr., accompanied him and also volunteered.
Another scout volunteer Zane Bracken, has a long family history in the Scouts that goes back to his great grandfather. “My grandpa told me a lot about scouting, and it sounded like a lot of fun.”
“I volunteered at the food drive to help The Salvation Army feed the hungry,” said Bracken.
Bracken 13, started as a Cub Scout. “I keep working with the Boy Scouts because we do big projects and activities that help the community.”
His most recent achievement is a Life Scout ranking, and he is one step away from achieving the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts, an Eagle Ranking.
Will Williamson, Scout Master for the Boy Scouts Arrowhead District, has been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts since 1982.
Williamson joined the Boy Scouts to help the youth, train them, teach them; it’s a fun job to do.
”A lot of the boys I first worked with have grown up into fine men. The Boy Scout Training in and all of the things they went through made them the good men they are today,” said Williamson.
For Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Salvation Army creates holiday food baskets for more than 600 local families. Canned food donations received from the Boy Scouts will be included in those baskets.
Nancy Alvarez, far left, loads a truck with food donations, with help from Thomas Eilander, far right. Nancy Alvarez, Commissioner of the Arrowhead District of the Boy Scouts, has been involved with the Boy Scouts for 18 years. “We teach Scouting skills, we teach life skills and it’s definitely character building,” said Alvarez. Photo by Paul Martinez
“The San Bernardino Corps also needs food every day for those at its Hospitality House homeless shelter,” said Major Ball. Up to 75 family members stay in its transitional and emergency family shelters.
The Salvation Army also needs food daily for up to 200 people who receive a free dinner served six nights a week. Approximately 40,000 meals are served annually from the Army’s kitchen located at 746 West 5th Street in San Bernardino.
The Boy Scouts received food donations from Stater Bros. stores in Lake Arrowhead, Colton, Fontana, Rialto, Highland and San Bernardino.
For more information on how to become involved with Boy Scouts of America, call Nancy Alvarez at (909) 553-6453 or you can visit their website at www.scouting.org.
For more information about donation or volunteering for The Salvation Army call (909) 888-1336.
About the Boy Scouts of America
Founded in 1910, The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
About the Salvation Army San Bernardino Corps
The Salvation Army may be able to provide 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.
The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, and also offers evangelical programs for boys, girls and adults. One of the largest charitable and international service organizations in the world, The Salvation Army has been in existence since 1865 and in 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.
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