Anson County Boy Scouts are participating in a national community service project, Scouting for Food.

Scouts are distributing grocery bags in local areas, churches and neighborhoods, to be filled with nonperishable food items.

Filled bags will be collected Saturday and Sunday and donated to Anson Crisis Ministry, replenishing their food pantry which is generally at its lowest level in the winter and after a holiday season.

All donations are appreciated, but the most needed items are meals in a can such as soup, stew and chili; tuna or canned chicken; peanut butter; canned foods with pop-top lids; fruit canned in juice or water; low-sodium canned vegetables; olive or canola oil; spices; low-sugar whole-grain cereal; and healthy snacks like granola bars, nuts and dried fruit.

According to Hunger Research, a consortium based out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 25 percent of the children of Anson County live in food insecure homes. Food insecurity is when children and families do not have consistent access to food due to limited income or resources, so they are hungry or faced by the threat of hunger.

Monetary donations are also welcome. Just $1 provides seven pounds of food to families in need.

Church, civic or neighborhood organizations can contact a Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venture Scout, or contact Melissa Ewing at melissa.ewing@scouting.org or at 910-334-2050.

The Anson Record