CAMDEN, Maine — The streets of Camden were crawling with tigers, wolves, and bears as the Cub Scouts of Pack 200 walked around neighborhood streets for their annual Scouting for Hunger donation drive.
The scouts, under the watchful gaze of their parents, picked up boxes and bags of donated cans, jars, and cartons of food.
One of the houses along the scouts’ route was Nic Daggett’s. He remembers when he was a young scout collecting donations and sorting goods.
“It's good to see the Boy Scout Cub Scout troops are still doing this,” Daggett said. “I was a Boy Scout growing up and we did this every year. I went over to the local church or food pantry and sorted out the food. So, it's good to see the tradition stay alive.”
Daggett has two kids of his own and hopes to instill a similar dedication to service.
“It's something we try to do every year,” he said. "Chance to do a little good, teach the kids about giving this time of year, do our best to explain to them what you know, why we're putting the food out and where it's going.”
In Maine, one in eight people are food insecure, and in Knox County specifically, 12 percent—roughly 5,000—of the population do not know where their next meal is coming from.
Webelos scout Derek Nash said that while the hoisting, sorting, and carrying was hard work, it was worth it.
“I think it was super fun. It's definitely a workout,” Nash said.
His mom, Janet Nash organized the event and said the group had three routes they gathered donations from.
“We've had one route that was amazing. We got a whole bunch of stuff donated,” she said.
It was her first time leading the event, and she is already taking note of what to improve on to gather as many donations as possible next year.
“We had a route that kind of needed adjustment. We tried an adjustment this year. It didn't really help as much. So, we will adjust again for next year,” Janet Nash said.
All food donations will be given to the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry and the winter coats and clothing will be donated to the First Congregational Church of Camden.