Cypress Area Scouts Collect and Donate Over 40,000 Pounds of Food for Local Nonprofit
Decades-long tradition and steadfast commitment to service once again came together as more than 1,000 Scouts of the Big Cypress District embarked on their annual Scouting for Food initiative. This District, which serves Scouting units in the northwest areas of the Cy-Fair ISD attendance zones of Harris County, including Cypress, Bridgeland and Fairfield, has a rich history filled with community service.
Scouting for Food is a prime reflection of the Scouts’ promise to “help other people,” according to Yen McAlister, Scouting for Food Coordinator for Big Cypress District and veteran Boy Scouts of America Scouts leader for 4 years. McAlister, a veteran Scouting for Food Coordinator who took over as Chair this year, explains that the initiative is about more than just feeding the hungry.
"This initiative is not only about helping those in need but also has positive effects on our sense of community, personal fulfillment, and social responsibility. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to the well-being of others and create a positive impact in our local community," she said.
Each year, a Scouting for Food Coordinator from every unit (Pack and Troop) serves as the main point of contact for Scouting for Food, receiving weekly email updates from McAlister starting in November. They are responsible for creating postcards, flyers, and social media content tailored to their unit's needs, dedicating their time and effort to prepare and organize their units for distribution day (or passing out postcards) and collection of food from neighborhoods across the Cypress area.
Scouts distributing postcards to homes in Cypress for this year's Scouting for Food initiative. (Source: Yen McAlister, Big Cypress District)Through careful logistical planning, the collected food items are then meticulously sorted, boxed and weighed by the Scouts before they finally reach their destination: Cypress Assistance Ministries (CAM).
CAM, a perennial partner of Scouting for Food, was chosen due to its work in helping individuals and families in Cypress. Last year, CAM's food pantry fed 27,282 people, with 812,268 pounds of food distributed at a value of $1,380,856, according to CAM's community impact report for 2023. And Scouts from Big Cypress District brought in 38,000 pounds of that food for CAM. As part of its outreach, CAM also partners with 60 congregations and smaller pantries in the region, along with the Houston Food Bank.
On Saturday, February 3, Scouts and their families arrived at CAM to deliver their haul in box trucks, vans and pickup trucks. The fruits of the Scouts' labor was a whopping 42,610 pounds of collected food worth approximately $82,000, enough to feed 4,500 families until May. Expressing her heartfelt thanks on behalf of CAM to the Scouts and their families, Lakesha Linson with CAM took to Facebook live during the drop-off, sharing "This is what you call community partnership, community giving, giving back and just doing good. We are so grateful."
Recognizing the significance of this initiative, Eagle Scout Benjamin Householder from Troop 329 reflected "It's so amazing to me how we can all come together and impact our community. They count on us every year, and we're glad to help collect food for CAM."
Scouts unloading a box truck full of food that was collected during this year's Scouting for Food initiative. (Source: CAM)Angela Teague, den leader and Committee Chair for Pack 1179, as well as Vice Chair of Big Cypress District with 16 years of scouting experience, believes that supporting CAM brings the community together and teaches the Scouts to "do a good turn daily."
"I really enjoy seeing the passion each youth brings to the project while collecting, sorting and weighing the food and they do it while having fun.," said Teague.
Long-standing, community-focused initiatives like this are at the heart of the Big Cypress District’s Scouting ethos. As they look to future years of Scouting for Food, the ripple effects of their service will continue to touch lives and strengthen the community.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
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