By Terry Georgia
The Surveyor

Get ready to clean out your cupboards! This Saturday, April 1, is “Scouting for Food,” the annual food drive to help restock Berthoud’s House of Neighborly Service food pantry. Berthoud’s Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are in charge of the event, during which they collect thousands of pounds of food and other items to help their neighbors.

This year the logistics of the drive are going to be a little different. Usually, the Scouts distribute flyers a week before collection day, asking residents to place donations on their front porches for pick up on the day of the drive. This year, due to a shortage of available drivers, only a few selected neighborhoods will get the flyers and porch pick-ups. Those who don’t live in the designated neighborhoods will have access to four drop-off sites around town.

Neighborhoods getting porch pick ups on April 1 are:
• Berthoud Lake Estates
• Prairie Star
• Matthew’s Farm
• Gateway Park
• Collins Park
• a few small neighborhoods west of Highway 287 (you’ll get a flyer)

If your neighborhood is not listed or you don’t receive a Scouting for Food flyer, bring donations to the following locations between 9 a.m. and noon on April 1:
• Berthoud Community Library
• Christy Dabney’s American Family Insurance office (next to Hays Market)
• Pioneer Park
• Fickel Park

Non-perishable foods, paper products and toiletries are needed, including:
• canned soups, fruits and vegetables
• dried or canned beans
• baking mixes
• paper towels
• toilet paper
• diapers and wipes
• male and female hygiene products

The need is great. Jinger Tomassi, assistant director for House of Neighborly Service in Berthoud is excited about the Scouting for Food drive because it gives the Berthoud’s food pantry a huge boost. “Last year we gave out an average of 5,500 pounds a month to those in need in our community,” explained Tomassi, “this year, the need is even greater with the recent cut to food stamps. We saw a 65% increase in requests for our food baskets in January/February of this year compared to the same months in 2022.”

Last year the Scouts collected over 11,000 pounds of food and other products. They hope to top that amount this year.
Vanessa Boehmer, a Girl Scout leader and mom of three young Girl Scouts, is helping coordinate Scouting for Food for the fourth time. She’s hoping the new drop-off sites will encourage more people to come see just how generous the people of Berthoud can be. “It’s super important for us to help our community,” she said, “it’s nice to give back.”

Jinger Tomassi agrees. “We are so grateful for all of the local Girl and Boy Scout troops, their leaders and parents, who do such an amazing job every year organizing and executing this event, as well as, all those in our community that donate food, toiletries, diapers and more. Together we are making a difference in our community!”