Local Scouts surpass 1 million pound mark in food bank donations

The MAGAs in Congress and the White House are cutting benefits to the needy. Credit to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and local Scouts for stepping in to fill the void.

The Food Bank announced on Thursday that the 2025 Scouting for Food campaign has pushed the program’s total contributions past 1 million pounds of food. 

Thanks to the dedication of Scout troops from the Shenandoah Area and Virginia Headwaters Councils, this year’s drive collected:

• 52,868 pounds of food
• $195 in donations: enough to provide nearly 600 meals
• These food and monetary donations resulted in the equivalent of 44,642 meals for neighbors living with food insecurity.

Note that the MAGAs are now trying to cut ties with the Scouts.

These are frustrating times that we live in.

Since formal tracking began in 2012, Scouts have contributed 1,035,671 pounds of food and cash donations that translate to about 899,149 meals for families across the region.

This year’s total is an 11,000-pound increase over last year, building on a legacy of service.

“We are deeply grateful to the Scouts, their families, and the community,” said Livia Marrs, volunteer and food drive manager at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “This year’s drive alone provided more than 44,000 meals, and together we’ve surpassed 1 million pounds of food collected over more than a decade. It’s a testament to the power of collective action. The Scouting for Food drive shows how neighbors can come together to help solve hunger, every day.”