Nearly 50 of the active Scouts at St. Gabriel’s, Titusville, spent Saturday, Nov. 13, scouting for food by going house to house in Titusville neighborhoods with members of other area Scout troops. The Scouts collected bags of food, which they brought to a central location to be sorted for equal distribution to local food banks as part of the annual Scouting for Food initiative.
Assistant Scoutmaster Courtney Charvet, his son Gabriel, fellow scouts Graham and Larkin with bags used to collect food – Photo: Jenni Hill
Scouting for Food is an annual program of the Boy Scouts of America begun in 1985 by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. It takes place on two consecutive weekends. Scouts distribute bags on the first weekend to let their neighbors know about the collection. On the second, Scouts revisit those houses to pick up bags full of nonperishable food.
Boys’ Scout Troop 370, Cub Scout Pack 370 and girls’ Scout Troop 4370 from St. Gabriel’s participated in the annual food drive. “It’s the biggest service project of the year for our district,” said Mark Mills, cubmaster and committee chair for both boys’ and girls’ Scout troops. “Troop 370 is approaching 60 years in existence and has participated in all SFF drives.”
The Scouts are led by Jason Bollinger, boys’ troop, with Tad Isaksen as assistant leader; Lauretta Mills, girls’ troop; and Matt Mills, Cubs’ pack.
“At one point, the line of bags that still needed sorting was 15 feet wide by at least 100 feet long,” said Edwin Hill, senior warden of St. Gabriel’s. “This is God’s work, and we are blessed that St. Gabriel’s supports the Scouts.”
The St. Gabriel’s Scouts collected 592 bags of food. “The girls’ troop collected 193 bags,” said Mills. “The boys’ troop collected 197 bags, and the Cubs collected 202 bags.”
The Scout troops are open to those aged 11-18, and the Cub Pack is open to boys and girls aged 5-11. They are part of the Challenger District, stretching from Eau Gallie Causeway to Mims. The district collected 8,089 bags weighing a total of 80,923 pounds and logged more than 6,000 service hours.
All six members of the Mills family are involved in the Scouting program at St. Gabriel’s. Photo: Troop 370
Scouting at St. Gabriel’s is a family affair for the Mills and Hill families. In addition to Mark and Lauretta Mills serving as Scout leaders, their four children, Andrew, Abigail, Aaron and Alexander, all belong to the Scout program.
“I have been participating in Scouting for Food since I was about 3 years old,” said Abigail Mills. “Two years ago, I was lucky enough to have time to sort and stock shelves at No One Hungry Food Pantry afterward. Seeing the fully stocked shelves and the direct impact I have on the community is the most rewarding things I have done in my scouting experience so far.”
Jenni Hill serves as the charter organization representative for all three units, pack and troops. Her son Graham is the patrol leader for Troop 370. “I am the interface between the units and St. Gabriel’s,” said Hill. “The Scouts and leaders are amazing, willing and ready to serve, and they always have fun!”
“The Scouting program is an excellent way for our youth to develop confidence and leadership skills through a series of fun activities and some hard work,” said Mark Mills. “I have seen 6-year-old kids stand up in front of an audience of 100 people and proudly read a little blurb to ‘help the Cubmaster out a little.'”
While not every Scout will earn Eagle or remain in the program until they turn 18, Mark feels they still benefit greatly. “I like to think that even if they are only around for a year or so, they take something away from the program that makes them more trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean or reverent,” he said.
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