Scouts collect food for pantry

Since 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has focused on important issues facing American youth. Despite the numerous community service initiatives and service projects available through volunteer and faith-based organizations, there is always more that can be done for those in need. Across the country, in many councils and districts, thousands of troops and packs with millions of Scouts involved collect tens of millions of pounds of food that is distributed to needy neighbors.

Freehold Boy Scout Troop 155 held its Spring Scouting For Food Drive during April. The Scouts collected 725 nonperishable items on April 25 and delivered them the following day to Freehold Open Door on Throckmorton Street, Freehold Borough.

Freehold Area Open Door Inc. is a nonprofit interfaith agency that provides emergency food, emergency funding, mentoring and scholarships to those in need from the Freehold area. Open Door was founded in 1970 as a joint mission effort of several local congregations providing clothing.

In 1987, Open Door changed into a food pantry based on the increasing problem of hunger. Since 1987, Open Door has initiated four additional programs to meet the area's growing needs. Of these four, the lunch program was the most recent being launched in June 2003.

Scouts Frank Anastasio, Chris Anastasio, Stephen Viera, Phillip Hu, Andrew Hu and Brennan Cornell volunteered to help to stock the shelves at Open Door on April 26.