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By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

CLEVELAND — Cub Scout Pack 308 collected more than 700 pounds of canned food for Rowan Helping Ministries-West as part of its recent Scouting for Food community project.

Cubmaster Trent Pence said an important part of scouting is doing for others. "With so many people out of work from Freightliner and all around," he said, "I thought this would be a good idea for the holidays."

Pence said he expected the 26 Cub Scouts in the pack to collect 200-to-300 pounds of canned food. "At the end of the food drive, I was blown away when we started weighing that food," he said, "and we've still got some trickling in.

"I'm real proud of the boys. I couldn't believe how they took it to heart."

Their parents also helped with the project. "Without their support," Pence said, "we couldn't make things happen."

The way the project worked, Cub Scouts were given empty grocery bags and fliers explaining the "Scouting for Food" program to distribute around their communities and collect donations.

Pence offered a prize for the student who collected the most canned goods "just to give them more motivation, but I don't think they needed much motivation."

Josiah Harper, who pulled a red wagon around his neighborhood, claimed the prize for collecting the most food.

The Cub Scouts also collected food in a drop box at the Cleveland Hometown IGA. Pence said the donations were turned in on Nov. 9 and delivered to Rowan Helping Ministries-West at 781 Grampion Road, Mount Ulla, two days later.

Pence said the manager of IGA gave the pack permission to keep the drop box at his store throughout the holidays, so the Cub Scouts will continue delivering donations to Rowan Helping Ministries-West.

The Cub Scouts offer participants outdoor activities, camping, various crafts and games along with community service, he said, "so I try to bring that up. We're here to serve the community as much as the community serves us."

The pack, which is sponsored by the Kennedy-Hall American Legion, meets at First Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Another community project the Cub Scouts are planning for the holidays is going to the senior meal site in Cleveland and a nursing home to do a Christmas program and sing carols.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.