Winsted Cub Scouts set record

WINSTED — Members of Winsted Cub Scout Pack 27 have set this year’s single-day collection record for the United Way of Northwest Connecticut’s Food for Your Neighbors drive by gathering 1,026 individual nonperishable food items on March 13.

“This is the most food collected by any group to date,†Bill Egan, executive director of the Northwest Connecticut United Way, told the Scouts before the troop’s den meeting Monday night at the Church of Christ in Winsted. “It’s just marvelous.â€

Food for Your Neighbors, now in its seventh year, is the United Way’s annual winter food drive that helps to feed families in need throughout the Northwest Corner.

All of the cash and food collected through the drive will directly benefit local food pantries in the region — including the Salvation Army Services Center at 110 Main St. in Winsted — which often find their shelves depleted after the holiday season.

Last year, the United Way collected more than 29,000 items. This year, the drive has already gathered some 15,000, with the fundraiser extending through March 24.

To help, Pack 27 decided to hold an all-day food and bottle drive at the Stop & Shop Plaza along New Hartford Road in Winsted last Saturday.

All nonperishable items gathered would go to benefit the United Way, and all proceeds raised through returnable bottles and cans collected would go to help support Pack 27.

The boys’ effort proved to be very beneficial for both organizations.

In addition to the record-setting number of nonperishable items, the pack also collected $95 in cash donations for the United Way, Pack 27 Cub Master Donovan Brown said.

“You did an awesome, awesome job,†Brown told the boys Monday.

The troop delivered their collected food items to the Winsted Salvation Army on Wednesday. Salvation Army volunteers have told The Journal the local pantry has experienced a marked increase in requests for assistance over the past several months.

During his visit with the Scouts, Egan presented the troop with a certificate of appreciation for the boys’ collection efforts. He commended pack members for stepping forward and doing their part to help others in their own community.

“I think this is really great,†Egan said.

The United Way of Northwest Connecticut’s Food for Your Neighbors will continue until March 24. For more information or to donate, call 860-489-4131 or visit northwestunitedway.org.

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