Annual Scouting For Food Event Canceled

The Carrollton Christian Academy will also be conducting a food drive to help the pantry. 

(Carrollton, Ky.) - It was announced today by the organizers of the annual "Scouting for Food," event that they have made the decision to cancel this year's event due to COVID-19 concerns. 

For over 36 years the cub scouts, boy scouts, brownies, and girl scouts, along with their parents and volunteers have gone door-to-door in Carrollton to collect the needed food items to be distributed through the food pantry, during the week prior to Thanksgiving. According to the organizers, the collected food items have accounted for nearly 80% of the food utilized for food pantry operations, and have provided the majority of items needed for Christmas food baskets. 

Along with the cancelation of the door-to-door event, Carroll County schools have also determined that they will not be able to participate in this year's food drive at the schools, also due to COVID-19 concerns. 

"Last year the schools alone had over 16,000 items for the food drive," stated scouting volunteer Ruth H. Baxter. "So the loss of this food is a tremendous blow to the pantry. We understand and support everyone's efforts to safe during this pandemic, and staying well should be everyone's first priority. So we're asking the community to step up and help us meet the continued requests for food that we've seen during COVID."

The food pantry is continuing to take food and money donations. Food donation boxes will be placed next week at local businesses with the goal of collecting all donated items by Friday, November 20. 

The Carrollton Christian Academy will also be conducting a food drive to help the pantry. 

Items that are needed by the pantry are; jelly, peanut butter, canned beef stew, canned tuna, canned fruit, cereal, and crackers. 

The pantry will remain open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. to provide food to those in need. The pantry will also be following COVID-19 protocols. 

Federal commodities are also available at the food pantry on the third Wednesday of each month distributed by the Carroll County Road Department, the City of Carrollton Street Department, and local volunteers, to those individuals earning less than $1,600.00 per month, and families earning less than $44,000.00 per year. 

According to the pantry, approximately 300 families are served each month, the next distribution will be Wednesday, November 18, with seniors being served from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. County residents regardless of age will be served from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. 

Proof of residency in Carroll County is required in the form of a driver's license, rent receipt, and/or utility bill showing a Carroll County address. 

Cash donations for the pantry can be mailed to P.O. Box 265, Carrollton, Kentucky 41008, or delivered to Ruth Baxter, Pantry Treasurer, at her office 523 Highland Avenue, Carrollton, Kentucky.