Thanks to all packs and troops who distributed the Scouting for Food bags last weekend, and thanks to all of you for your efforts to prepare for Saturday's collection.  The weather forecast looks a little nasty Friday night, but hopefully it'll be dry on Saturday morning for collecting food.  I have a few items for your attention.

If you haven't seen the earlier updates, you may view them at: http://home.earthlink.net/~blshiflett/s4f-newsletters.htm.

Food Collection Day - Saturday, November 10

Saturday is the big day!  The collection center hours are posted below, along with maps and directions.  The collection site assignment is based upon what the coordinator has told me or where the unit delivered food in past years.  If you plan to deliver to a collection site that is different than what is specified below, please contact Brian Shiflett beforehand.  We try to balance out the food donations between the Holiday Coalition, LINK and Messiah's Market, based upon their program requirements.

As always, please keep the Scouts safe while they canvass neighborhoods.  Remind drivers to carry a separate box for glass items and to separate out any gift cards.  Have a driver sweep through your neighborhoods around lunchtime to catch any late donations.  The entire pack or troop does not need to arrive at the collection center at the same time.  Conversely, it's better if drop-offs are staggered.  Boy Scouts are welcome to stay and help sort food at the collection sites.  Parents are welcome to show their Cub Scouts around the collection sites.  As the day goes on, the piles of food are awesome!  

Please make sure the bulk of the food bags are delivered during the hours listed for each collection site.  If for some reason you have a late delivery, the Community Holiday Coalition will be accepting food donations on Sunday, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and on Monday, from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM.  

I will report food collection totals to you on Saturday night. 

Good Turn for America Web Site and NCAC Reporting

After Scouting for Food is over, please add your pack or troop's service project information into the Good Turn for America web site.  If your unit has not used this site, please see our local instructions.  You'll need an estimate of the number of service hours worked as well as the amount of food collected.  Last year the web site asked for the number of food items collected in addition to the number of hours, but I recommend you enter the number of pounds, rather than the number of items collected. 

This year our Council has asked the participating units to enter their Scouting for Food results into the Council web site at the following location:  https://secure.boyscouts-ncac.org/Registration/CalendarDetail.asp?ActivityKey=325154&OrgKey=370&returnurl=http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org.  The Council appreciates your efforts to make the food drive a success.  They will use the data you submit in their media promotions. 

Collection Site Information

Community Holiday Coalition

23430 Rock Haven Way, Suite 160 Dulles, VA 20166-2190 Open for Food Collection: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Open for Food Sorting until 4:00 PM Directions: From the Dulles Greenway heading East Take the Dulles Greenway, Exit #8, Route 606 (Old Ox Road), and turn right onto Old Ox Road. Go 2.2 miles and turn left onto Trade Center Place. Travel one block and make a right turn onto Rock Haven Way. Make an immediate left turn into the parking lot. For food deliveries, make the second left turn and look for signs directing you to our loading dock. From the Leesburg Area using Evergreen Mills Road Take Evergreen Mills Road south until it ends at the Loudoun County Parkway (11.4 miles past Heritage High School). Make a left turn onto the Loudoun County Parkway. Go 2.6 miles and make a right turn onto Trade Center Place. Note that Loudoun County Parkway becomes Old Ox Road along this stretch of road. Travel one block and make a right turn onto Rock Haven Way. Make an immediate left turn into the parking lot. For food deliveries, make the second left turn and look for signs directing you to our loading dock. From Eastern Loudoun County Take Route 28 south to the exit for Route 606 (Old Ox Road), and take first ramp right onto Old Ox Road westbound. Go 4.5 miles and turn left onto Trade Center Place. Travel one block and make a right turn onto Rock Haven Way. Make an immediate left turn into the parking lot. For food deliveries, make the second left turn and look for signs directing you to our loading dock. From the South and Points West on U.S. 50 From Route 50, make a turn north onto the Loudoun County Parkway. Go 4.5 miles and make a right turn onto Trade Center Place. Note that Loudoun County Parkway becomes Old Ox Road along this stretch of road. Travel one block and make a right turn onto Rock Haven Way. Make an immediate left turn into the parking lot. For food deliveries, make the second left turn and look for signs directing you to our loading dock. Participating Units: Packs Packs Packs Troops Troops 71 998 1173 663 1168 282 1148 1483 761 1173 663 1151 1484 961 1430 954 1154 1490 982 1550 958 1158* 1550 997 1576 965 1159 1576 998 982 1167 1666 1154 997 1168 2010 1159

* Pack 1158 will split their collections between Messiah's Market and the Community Holiday Coalition.

LINK

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church 46833 Harry Byrd Hwy, Sterling, VA 20164 Open for Food Collection: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Open for Food Sorting until 3:00 PM Participating Units: Packs Troops 572 572 905 950 950 966 951 970 956 1158 1152 1164 1155 1165 1156 1910 1157 OA 1164   1165

Messiah's Market

The Community Church 19790 Ashburn Road Ashburn, VA 20147-5636 East side of building Open for Food Collection: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Participating Units: Packs Troops 449 39 1106 956 1158* 1106 Directions From Route 7 Take the Lansdowne Blvd./Claiborne Parkway exit south onto Claiborne Parkway.  At first traffic signal, turn left onto Russell Branch Parkway.  At the next stop sign, turn left onto Ashburn Road.  Make a right-hand turn onto last driveway near the end of Ashburn Road. From Points South Take Ashburn Road north past Russell Branch Parkway and turn right onto the last driveway near the end of Ashburn Road.

Purcellville Collection Site

Loudoun Valley Shopping Center In front of the old Food Plus store 700 Block of East Main St., Purcellville VA 20132 Open for Food Collection: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Open for Food Sorting until 1:30 PM Participating Units: Packs Troops 39 163 743 711 953 743 961 962 962 969 969 975 1162

As always, if you want to discuss any aspect of Scouting for Food, please give me a call at  703-405-6341 (cell), or send me e-mail at brian.shiflett@verizon.net.  Please don't forget to check the information posted on the Scouting for Food web site.  Best wishes for a successful collection this weekend.

Yours in Scouting,

Brian Shiflett
Scouting for Food Coordinator, Goose Creek District