SANTA ROSA, February 18, 2009 - Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale hope to collect some 8,000 lbs. of canned and packaged food for people in need during the annual Scouting for Food drive March 7-14.

Food collected during the week-long drive will go to help the Redwood Empire Food Bank provide food for some 60,000 people in Sonoma County every month. The REFB needs to collect 5 million lbs. of food each year to meet to provide for growing numbers of people who need help feeding themselves and their families.

Scouts and Cubs of the Pomo District of the Redwood Empire Council Boy Scouts of America will be seeking donations by going door-to-door in neighborhoods in Santa Rosa, Windsor, Cloverdale, and Larkfield-Wikiup.

The Scouts and Cubs will distribute empty bags to residences between Saturday, March 7 and Saturday, March 14.

Residents are welcome to donate food immediately or, as an alternative, fill the bags over the week and leave them at their front door or mail box for scouts to collect and deliver them to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

In addition, food for Scouting for Food can be donated on the last day of the drive, Saturday, March 14, at Longs Drugs on Fourth Street in Santa Rosa. Scouts will be on hand to accept donations between the hours of noon to 3 p.m.

Food also can be donated at the REFB headquarters, 3320 Industrial Drive in Santa Rosa. The REFB warehouse will be open to receive donations from noon to 3 p.m.

Residents are being urged to donate canned tuna, chicken, soups, chili and beans; canned fruit and vegetables, breakfast cereal, boxed and canned juices, dry pasta, rice and beans. Food in glass containers or perishable items can't be accepted.

This is the 22nd annual Scouting for Food drive across the United States and comes during the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

Sonoma County scouts participated in the food drive in 2003 and collected 8,209 lbs. of food. They hope to match that mark this year.

Participating Scout Troops and Cub Packs and the areas where they will be seeking donations include:

Troop 55 - Oakmont
Troop 112 - Rincon Valley
Troop 122 - MacDonald Avenue Neighborhoods
Troop 125 - West Santa Rosa
Troop 509 - Railroad Square
Troop 707 - Mark West/Larkfield

Pack 29 - Windsor
Packs 55 and 127 - Bennett Valley
Pack 60 - Cloverdale
Pack 118 - Skyhawk
Pack 331 - Wikiup
Pack 333 - Larkfield/Mark West

The REFB is the largest food bank on the Northern California coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. Working with 133 partner agencies, the REFB provides food to some 60,000 people a month in Sonoma County alone. It is also a source of food for pantries in Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

For more information, contact Miriam Hodgman, REFB Food Drive & Events Coordinator, 707-523-7900 Ext. 27.