Scouting for Food 2026: The Power of ONE
Join us in our Annual Good Turn for America—and discover The Power of ONE.
A Scout is HELPFUL, and Scouting for Food is a powerful reminder that even one small act can make a big difference. Scouting for Food is Miami Valley Council’s largest annual service project, uniting Scouts, families, and communities across our five-county service area to help fight hunger.
Each year, Scouts distribute thousands of door hangers throughout local neighborhoods, inviting residents to donate non-perishable food items. One week later, Scouts return to collect those donations. What begins with one Scout, one family, or one bag of food adds up to thousands of meals for neighbors in need. All collected food is delivered to The Foodbank, Inc. and other local pantries, directly supporting families across the Miami Valley.
This campaign is only possible through the collective impact of many individuals choosing to act. We are grateful for the generosity of our community and the support of our valued partners, whose collaboration helps ensure every donation reaches those who need it most.
Together, we prove that ONE act of service can spark lasting change—because when Scouts and communities work together, the power of ONE becomes the power of many.
A Scout is HELPFUL.
How to participate in Scouting for Food
If you received a door hanger, fill a bag with non-perishable food and place it outside by 9:00 AM on your local collection date (see LOCAL DIRECTORY below).
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Check for a Door Hanger (March 7th or 14th)
- On weekends in the month of March, Scouts will place BLUE door hangers in neighborhoods to announce the food drive.
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Set Out Your Donation (By 9:00 AM on March 14th or 21st)
- Place non-perishable food items in a bag or box by your front door, visible from the road.
- Scouts will pick up donations from homes that received door hangers.
- Please use the LOCAL DIRECTORY below to find the collection date and local contact in your area!
- If your donation is not picked up by 2:00 PM on your local collection date, please use the directory below to find contact information for the local scout leader in your area that can assist!
Suggested Food Donation Items
When donating, please choose non-perishable, unexpired items. Please NO frozen or perishable food items.
Most Needed Food Items
- Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon)
- Canned soups and stews
- Canned beans
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Canned fruits & vegetables
- Pasta and rice
- Boxed meals
- Cereal
- Crackers
- Shelf-stable milk
- Baby food & formula
Currently, more than 1 in 7 people in the Miami Valley area are food insecure. The statistics are worse for children, with 1 in 5 falling into the same category.
Every donation makes a difference—thank you for helping fight hunger in our community!
Other Ways to Participate
Even if you didn’t receive a door hanger, you can still make a difference!
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Drop Off Donations
- Bring non-perishable food items to one of our collection sites:
- Miami Valley Council Service Center @ 7285 Poe Ave, Dayton, OH 45414
- The Foodbank @ 56 Armor Pl, Dayton, OH 45417
- Local food banks or pantries near you
- Bring non-perishable food items to one of our collection sites:
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Make a Financial Contribution
- Consider donating directly to The Foodbank, Inc. Every $1 provides 4 meals for families in need in the Miami Valley area.
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Host a Work Place Food Drive
- Have a local business? Consider putting out a Scouting For Food collection box for a week in the month of March. Our volunteers will collect the food items and donate them to a local pantry of your choice!
- Request a Scouting for Food collection box, form linked below.
LOCAL DIRECTORY: 2026 SCOUTING FOR FOOD
Please use the directory below to find the food collection date in your area and a local contact person if you have any questions or if your donation gets missed.
County | City | Area of Coverage | Food Collection Date | Scout Unit | Local Contact Name | Phone Number | |
Darke | Ft. Jefferson | Ft. Jefferson Ohio and Wayne Lakes | 3/14/2026 | Troop 96 | Amanda W | 937-459-6287 | wrightamanda160@gmail.com |
Darke | Arcanum | Town of Arcanum | 3/21/2026 | Pack 185 | Rachel B | 937-423-2236 | cubscouts185@gmail.com |
Darke | New Madison | New Madison Ohio, Hollansburg Ohio and Eldorado Ohio | 3/22/2026 | Pack 96 | Amanda W | 937-459-6287 | wrightamanda160@gmail.com |
Miami | Troy | Sherwood and south side of Westbrook neighborhoods | 3/21/2026 | Troop 5788 | Jon C | n/a | Ceegee212@gmail.com |
Miami | Troy | Westbrook and Kensington | 3/14/2026 | Troop 365 | Randy S | 937-570-6931 | rsentman@hotmail.com |
Miami | Troy | Stonyridge and Heritage Hills around Cookson - roughly Troy Urbana down to Staunton, Stonyridge (east) to Ohio Ave | 3/21/2026 | Pack 365 | Nathan W | 937-216-2965 | nathan.walters@gmail.com |
Miami | Pleasant Hill / Covington | Throughout Pleasant Hill | 3/21/2026 | Pack 43 | Jerry G | 937-638-6731 | jerrygrise22@gmail.com |
Miami | Piqua | Piqua | 3/21/2026 | Troop 295 | Steve G | 937-418-6893 | Grise2@yahoo.com |
Miami | Piqua | Landon Park, Candle Wood, Park Ridge, Eagle's Nest areas (in Piqua, OH) | 3/21/2026 | Troop 76 | Dan W | 937-238-8210 | danwrn818@gmail.com |
Miami | Tipp City | Tipp City Proper | 3/21/2026 | Troop 586 | Ben L | 937-239-9431 | benlambers@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Miamisburg | Miamisburg by Parkview Church | 3/14/2026 | Troop 402 | Melora N | n/a | Melora.newsome@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Huber Heights | Scouts will be distributing in their own neighborhoods, be on the lookout! | 3/14/2026 | Pack 169 | Cheyenne D | 937-270-4911 | n/a |
Montgomery | Oakwood | north and east side of Oakwood | 3/21/2026 | Troop 320 | Jim W | 937-294-1125 | n/a |
Montgomery | Kettering | Kettering, OH: Primarily East of Shroyer and then blocks both north and south of Stroop | 3/21/2026 | Troop 193 | Lori H | 937-510-1660 | 1lilpig22@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Englewood | Englewood west of 48 and south of 40 and east of Union | 3/15/2025 | Troop 246 | Karry M | n/a | Karrylynnm23@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Germantown | Germantown Market Street South, Astoria Road East to Butter Street | 3/21/2026 | Troop 29 | Valerie F | 937-855-4348 | n/a |
Montgomery | Huber Heights | North Huber | 3/15/2025 | Pack 268 | Mark C | 937-307-0402 | n/a |
Montgomery | Vandalia | Vandalia Butler Township neighborhoods near Little York | 3/21/2026 | Troop 307 | Patricia C | 937-499-4157 | pkohlrieser@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Germantown | Germantown | 3/21/2026 | Pack 409 | Zach R | 937-284-4862 | Gmcpack409@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Englewood | Englewood, OH: Herr St, Beckenham Rd, Camborne Dr, Grantham Dr, Runson St, Tietzmann Ave, and Elm Ct. | 3/21/2026 | Troop 246 & 5246 | Austin M | n/a | Ameagley08@gmail.com |
Montgomery | Kettering | Kettering around Christ Church United Methodist and Orchard Park Student neighborhood. | 4/4/2026 | Troops 236 & 237, Pack 236 | Bryan W | 937-694-7898 | BTWaid@prodigy.net |
Montgomery | Oakwood | Oakwood, OH: East through Greenmount, Shroyer to Far Hills and a couple streets around Harmon School | 4/25/2026 | Pack 151 | Jamie C | n/a | Jamie_carter0403@yahoo.com |
Montgomery | Huber Heights | Huber Heights, OH: Neighborhoods north of I-70 | 3/21/2026 | Pack 268 | Blake H | 937-260-9252 | Blake.herstine@wright.edu |
Shelby | Sidney | Area north of Russell Road, South of Howeisher Road, West of Broadway Avenue and east of Parkwood Street. | 3/14/2026 | Pack 97 | Phil A | n/a | cubscoutpack97sidneyohio@gmail.com |
Shelby | Sidney | Anna | 3/14/2026 | Pack 301 | Samantha S | 937-638-2717 | n/a |
Shelby | Sidney | Sidney | 3/21/2026 | Troop 97 | Rod W | 419-305-0343 | rwiford@gmail.com |
Request 2026 Scouting For Food Door Hangers
Please fill out the form to commit your Unit to the 2026 Scouting For Food drive and to request your door hangers. For 2026, we will add a local contact number or email to this page for people in your community to contact. Please be sure to provide this information in the form.
Since our logo, sponsors, and other information has changed, please DO NOT use and prior year door hangers.
Sign up your Business
We invite local businesses to join us in our annual Good Turn for America by holding your own Scouting for Food drive. Businesses are encouraged to create an employee or department challenge and to recognize those that collect the most food items or pounds of food.
To sign up your business for Scouting for Food and to request collection boxes, please click the button below.
Report 2026 Participation
Please be sure to fill out the participation form to report how many Youth and Adults participated in your unit’s Scouting For Food drive, how many pounds of food were collected or number of items and where you donated the food. The total number of youth and adults will be how many patches you will receive.
Please submit the form by April 30, 2026.
timeline
February
Contact your local food bank or pantry to make sure they need help.
Determine how many Scouts will participate and how many adults will be available to drive when picking up food.
Determine how your unit will be participating (there are multiple ways).
Determine number of door hangers needed and fill out the commitment form online by February 20th.
Talk to other units to get them to participate (consider friendly competition).
Pick up supplies at the Council Service Center -Date TBD (will be communicated once door hangers are in).
March
Collect as many non-perishable goods as possible and deliver them to your local food bank.
Your unit can participate throughout the month, but the official drive week is Saturday, March 14th – Saturday, March 21st, 2026
April
Report your final results using the participation report form above which also serves as the patch order. Please complete the report form by April 30th, 2026.
Get Involved
Scouts will be distributing door tags on March 8th inviting the community to participate in the Scouting for Food drive. But, that’s not the only way to participate! Food can be dropped off at the Miami Valley Council Service Center during regular business hours during the month of March. Businesses can participate in a workplace Food Drive to support the Scouting for Food Effort! If your business would like to participate in a workplace food drive to support our efforts, please click here to request a collection box.
For more information
Contact Amanda Schaedig at amanda.schaedig@souting.org, or call 937-665-1068
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