‘ Cereal for Kids’

‘ Cereal for Kids’

Scouts collect breakfast items for Mid- South Food Bank

news@theeveningtimes.com

Marion Cub Scout Pack 172 scouted up some breakfast for kids in hunger. The local effort Saturday at Kroger was part of an overall one day efforts of scouts from across the Chickasaw Council which raised $4,207 for the Mid-South Food Bank’s Cereal for Kids drive. The Council pledged to collect 65,000 servings of cereal to fight childhood hunger in the metro area.

The pack from Marion collected four shopping carts full of cereal boxes and $247.50 for the cause. Each dollar donated translates into 17 servings of breakfast for children.

“Were are doing this throughout the summer to raise awareness about kids in need and collect food for the Mid-South Food Bank,” said Scout leader Christina McCafferty. “Normally many kids would get breakfast and lunch at school but this time of year not get as much. Food is not so easy to come by for some children. We are trying to help their families.”

According to the food bank, one child in four in Crittenden County struggles with hunger. Most kids in the county get free or reduced breakfast and lunch at school. But with the school cafeteria’s closed for summer vacation finding breakfast becomes a challenge for many kids in the county.

The young scouts worked hard, each one took turns for at least an hour from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on a very hot day in front of the grocery store. Some of the scouts stayed the whole four hours, holding signs and making pleads for the cause. Their work not only provided an opportunity for kids to help feed other hungry kids but also counted toward earning a community service patch and rank advancement requirements. The Cereal for Kids campaign runs through the end of July. Donations from county residents may be made by contacting Christina McCafferty through the scout office at (901) 327-4193.

By John Rech