Scouting for Food in Lakemont: How You Can Help Local Scouts Fight Hunger This January
When the new year begins and the shelves of local food pantries struggle to recover from holiday demands, Scouts across Lakemont and greater Southeast Texas are gearing up for one of the largest community service efforts of the year: Scouting for Food. Organized by the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America, this annual initiative helps fight hunger in our own neighborhoods through food collection and donation.
“Scouting for Food can impact local communities through contributions to many local pantries as well as major food distribution agencies,” said Karen Stancik, Scouting for Food Chair for the Sam Houston Area Council. “As a service effort, it is a cornerstone of Scouting’s annual service efforts by providing a scheduled day for Scouts to be visible in their communities, doing a good turn for others.”
Residents of Lakemont should keep an eye out the weekend of January 24, 2026, when local Scouts will be placing door hangers throughout neighborhoods to let residents know about the upcoming collection. If you receive a hanger, it’s your invitation to participate—simply leave a bag of non-perishable food near your front door the morning of January 31, 2026, and Scouts will be back to collect it.
Local food pantries need support more than ever. According to Feeding America, food banks across the U.S. are facing increased demand as inflation, supply chain issues, and reduced SNAP benefits continue to strain families and charitable programs. Closer to home, the Houston Food Bank reports higher client needs across all 18 Southeast Texas counties it supports.
The Sam Houston Area Council serves 28,000 youth across 16 counties including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazos, and more. With the help of 10,000 adult volunteers, the council offers year-round programming that instills values of character, citizenship, and service in its youth members. Scouting America, the national parent organization, has a proud legacy of shaping young leaders through meaningful community engagement and character-building experiences.
Earlier this year, Scouting for Food 2025 rallied over 2,000 volunteers over both weekends, yielding 11,000 service hours reported across 150 units and more than 111,000 pounds in food donations.
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“Every year presents memorable moments,” shared Stancik. “From first-year Cubs racing down streets, to proud parents watching their children place door hangers or heaving bags full of donations to a wagon. It is a monumental effort by all!”
Scouting for Food also teaches young people valuable life lessons. By participating, even the youngest Scouts begin to understand the power of kindness, service, and leadership.
“Scouting for Food gives young people the opportunity to see first-hand the impact of their small effort of placing door hangers, when they return the next weekend, and there are donations larger than they could imagine,” Stancik explained. “Young people see that they are part of a larger picture, and young leaders emerge.”
Residents can support the initiative in several ways beyond food donations. You can make a direct contribution to your local food pantry, or help spread the word by sharing this article on your Lakemont Facebook group or page, or on NextDoor with your neighbors. These small actions make a big difference and help the Scouts extend their reach to more families across Lakemont.
“Food insecurity exists all around us,” said Stancik. “Through Scouting for Food, all Scouts can have an impact and be helpful to their neighbors.”
Whether it’s donating a can of soup or a bag of rice, talking to your kids about the importance of helping others, or simply encouraging your neighborhood to get involved, Scouting for Food offers an easy way to make a meaningful difference right here in Lakemont.
To learn more about Scouting America or the Sam Houston Area Council, visit shacbsa.org.
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.
