Scouts from Troop 2146, which serves Sloatsburg and Tuxedo, sort food from a food drive that collected some 700 pounds for those in the surrounding community in need this holiday season. / Photo via Troop 2146

Thanksgiving marks one of the busiest times of year for the local food pantry. And once again, the Boy Scouts from Troop 2146 which serves the Tuxedo and Sloatsburg communities, organized an effort that helped stock the shelves for the Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry.

Scouts from Troop 2146 iwho participated in the troop’s on-going food drive nclude Nathan Nash, John Castricone, James O’Reilly, Kyle Murray, Gerard O’Reilly, and Matthew Willins. / Photo via Troop 2146

Gerard O’Reilly, a Troop 2146 member who also serves as Historian, reported that the scouts delivered more than 200 bags of food items donated from throughout the area that amounted to nearly 700 pounds.

The scouts not only collected the food in door-to-door drives but sorted and stacked them at the Food Pantry as part of the troop’s on-going support to help alleviate the hidden hunger that many area families experience.

Helpful Scouts from Troop 2146 Jared Spivak, Matt Leanza and Spencer Griffler sort food at the Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry. / Photo via Troop 2146

O’Reilly said the food drive was such a success because of the enthusiasm and investment of the scouts and their parents in the important cause of fighting hunger.

“The Sloatsburg Food Pantry helps feed many families in our local community,” said O’Reilly. “We truly appreciate all that they do for our community. We would also like to thank those families in the Sloatsburg and Tuxedo for their donations towards this wonderful cause.”

The Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry resides in the downstairs kitchen of the United Methodist Church’s old chapel and serves approximately 180 members, including families and students within the Ramapo Central and Tuxedo Union Free school districts. The Food Pantry is part of a larger alliance of food pantries and feeding programs across Rockland County.