Scouting for food

Dear Editor,

This is the time of year when we take time to ponder the many things that we are grateful for. One of the items at the top of my list is that I have sufficient food to feed myself and my family. That is not the case with many people in Sweetwater County.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit with Kathy Siler, the director of the Sweetwater County Food Bank. Since it was the second Tuesday of the month, she was in Rock Springs serving the food need of the people there. When I asked about the number of people the food bank is currently serving, she replied “The first hour we opened this morning we had 93 people come through the door. That represents 93 families. If that is not a record for us, it is close to a record. We are currently serving about 700 families in Sweetwater county, which is 100 more than this time last year. Our need is great.”

How can you help feed others? Here’s the simple solution. This Saturday, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in Sweetwater County will be visiting the neighborhoods and collecting non-perishable food for the food bank. This is an annual activity called Scouting for Food. If you leave a bag of food on your doorstep by 9 a.m., a scout will come by and pick it up. Pretty easy way to help out those in need, right?

On Saturday, the scouts typically gather several thousand pounds of food and while it sounds like a lot, it will not last long. Kathy Siler indicated that their shelves are pretty bare right now, and the food goes quickly when you are serving 700 families. Be generous in your giving. Help a family on Saturday through scouting for food.

Patsy Sorensen

Green River