Troop 167 Pandemic Food Drive
Helping Arlington Families in Need
In keeping with the Scout tradition of service, Troop 167 is operating a food distribution program targeted to some of the most vulnerable populations in Arlington, Virginia. This effort started as an informal initiative for some troop families but has since transitioned to a troop-wide activity with a strong mandate from Mount Olivet United Methodist Church and Pastor Ed Walker.
Scoutmasters Rob Faris ([email protected]) and Brenda Winter ([email protected]) and Assistant Scoutmaster Anne Faris ([email protected]) have spearheaded this effort, assisted by a growing number of volunteers (both adults and Scouts) from the troop. Recipients are families in need who are referred to the troop from trusted community agents.
All funds to support this food drive come from donations, and not the troop treasury. Donations are tracked in a sub-account and used to purchase groceries and other staples. Over the course of a week and as funds allow, up to 100 families are supported.¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Scoutmasters Rob Faris ([email protected]) and Brenda Winter ([email protected]) and Assistant Scoutmaster Anne Faris ([email protected]) have spearheaded this effort, assisted by a growing number of volunteers (both adults and Scouts) from the troop. Recipients are families in need who are referred to the troop from trusted community agents.
All funds to support this food drive come from donations, and not the troop treasury. Donations are tracked in a sub-account and used to purchase groceries and other staples. Over the course of a week and as funds allow, up to 100 families are supported.¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Food Box Contents
We believe it is important to provide families with items that are nutritious and essential and are complementary to what they might be able to obtain from other services (often canned food). Many of the families that we are helping have young children, to whom the importance of a balanced diet cannot be over-stressed.
Each food box contains fresh fruits & vegetables, milk, eggs, some protein, and essential staples. The troop purchases food wholesale in bulk, repackages it into family sizes, and builds food boxes to be delivered to recipients. A typical family box might include milk, eggs, rice, flour, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, oranges, plantains, bread, tortillas, oatmeal or cereal, pasta & sauce, vegetable oil, bouillon, flour, sugar, coffee, and a few cookies.
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Each food box contains fresh fruits & vegetables, milk, eggs, some protein, and essential staples. The troop purchases food wholesale in bulk, repackages it into family sizes, and builds food boxes to be delivered to recipients. A typical family box might include milk, eggs, rice, flour, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, oranges, plantains, bread, tortillas, oatmeal or cereal, pasta & sauce, vegetable oil, bouillon, flour, sugar, coffee, and a few cookies.
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Safety Protocols & Risk Management
Precautions are taken to ensure that all steps of the operation follow the best available safety protocols. This includes consideration of the risk levels of each stage of the operational chain – planning, fundraising, procurement, packaging, boxing, and delivery – and making sure that all participants understand and accept the risks and take necessary actions to protect themselves and others.
The safety of Scouts is paramount and is emphasized repeatedly. Scout participation is limited to no-risk activities such as planning and fundraising (plans include social media and crowdfunding campaigns) or to lower-risk activities such as collection of boxes/cartons and food bagging; a distributed model where such activities can be done within the safety of their homes is encouraged. Scouts will not be allowed to participate in higher-risk activities such as food delivery to recipients. Under all circumstances, parental agreement will be required.
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The safety of Scouts is paramount and is emphasized repeatedly. Scout participation is limited to no-risk activities such as planning and fundraising (plans include social media and crowdfunding campaigns) or to lower-risk activities such as collection of boxes/cartons and food bagging; a distributed model where such activities can be done within the safety of their homes is encouraged. Scouts will not be allowed to participate in higher-risk activities such as food delivery to recipients. Under all circumstances, parental agreement will be required.
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How You Can Help
Donate Funds: Donations are the lifeblood of this operation. Food insecurity is likely to remain a problem for significant parts of the community for many more months, and the demand is practically infinite. Each food box costs upwards of $25, and we intend for it to provide an important part of the minimum nutritional needs for a family of four for at least one week – hopefully supplemented from other sources. Every dollar donated goes 100% toward food costs. Please go to tinyurl.com/t167fooddrive to give. Donations to Troop 167/Mount Olivet are tax-deductible. You can also Mail a check to Troop 167 501 N Oakland St Arlington, VA 22203.
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Spread The Word: We are serving some of Arlington's most vulnerable populations and are confident that many in our very generous community would gladly give if presented with the opportunity. So please let others know about our troop's effort.
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Gather boxes/cartons: This is a small but crucial part of the operation. We need medium-size boxes to use for distribution – up to 100 per week! Boxes should be delivered to the Faris home at 5915 15th St N Arlington, VA 22205. Asking around one’s neighborhood for leftover delivery/packing boxes has usually been successful (see example below).
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Procure food: Susan Nguyen ([email protected]) and Anne Faris keep track of inventory. After checking with Susan to assess this week's needs, volunteers can make grocery/warehouse store runs and buy items on the procurement list – typically non-perishable items – and arrange for delivery to the Faris home. It is helpful if families can also repackage bulk items into smaller packages prior to delivery (see below; this also helps with social distancing).
If you procure food, please keep the receipts and give them to Treasurer Vinh Nguyen at [email protected] for a prompt reimbursement. Even if you donate the food and do not wish to be reimbursed, please pass on the receipts so that proper record-keeping can take place.
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Join the assembly line: On food delivery day (typically a dry weekend day), the entire operation comes together to pack, repack, and assemble food boxes which are then loaded on a few large vehicles for delivery at the end of the day. PPEs are required, as are social distancing practices. Please contact Anne for the schedule.
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Make referrals: If you are aware of any families in need, please let Anne know, and the troop will try its best to help.
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Spread The Word: We are serving some of Arlington's most vulnerable populations and are confident that many in our very generous community would gladly give if presented with the opportunity. So please let others know about our troop's effort.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Gather boxes/cartons: This is a small but crucial part of the operation. We need medium-size boxes to use for distribution – up to 100 per week! Boxes should be delivered to the Faris home at 5915 15th St N Arlington, VA 22205. Asking around one’s neighborhood for leftover delivery/packing boxes has usually been successful (see example below).
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Procure food: Susan Nguyen ([email protected]) and Anne Faris keep track of inventory. After checking with Susan to assess this week's needs, volunteers can make grocery/warehouse store runs and buy items on the procurement list – typically non-perishable items – and arrange for delivery to the Faris home. It is helpful if families can also repackage bulk items into smaller packages prior to delivery (see below; this also helps with social distancing).
If you procure food, please keep the receipts and give them to Treasurer Vinh Nguyen at [email protected] for a prompt reimbursement. Even if you donate the food and do not wish to be reimbursed, please pass on the receipts so that proper record-keeping can take place.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Join the assembly line: On food delivery day (typically a dry weekend day), the entire operation comes together to pack, repack, and assemble food boxes which are then loaded on a few large vehicles for delivery at the end of the day. PPEs are required, as are social distancing practices. Please contact Anne for the schedule.
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Make referrals: If you are aware of any families in need, please let Anne know, and the troop will try its best to help.