When you think of scouting, most people think of camping. In fact, scouting is so much more. The scout slogan is “Do a Good Turn Daily.” That means helping others each day without expecting anything in return. Service projects are an example of one-way scouts do a good turn daily. The biggest service project is the Eagle Project that the scout plans and executes with the help of fellow scouts, family, and friends.

Josh M., of Troop 122 in Evans, has been involved in scouting since he was a wolf in the 2nd grade and has loved every moment. The camping, outdoor skills, STEM, and service projects. Scouting has played a large part in Josh's life and has helped him develop his self-confidence, ethics, and leadership skills that will help him become a successful member of society.

Now a Life Rank, Josh is working towards that coveted Eagle Rank and has started his Eagle Project. Josh and other members of his Troop volunteer often serving food at the Master's Table Soup Kitchen. He has seen how today's economy has directly affected not just individuals, but families in our area. For his Eagle Project he is doing a food and supply drive for Columbia County Cares.

Columbia County Cares is a food pantry in Columbia County that serves over 300 families a month. They rely on donations and volunteers to carry out their grocery program where they provide food, health, and comfort items to families and their pets in need in Columbia County. Columbia County Cares partners with other organizations in the area to meet the needs of Columbia County such as Columbia County School Systems backpack program.

Donations to food banks are needed year-round. However, when the holidays are over, donations tend to decline. Josh saw a need for a spring donation drive to help with this. He is collecting for the entire month of April and doing several neighborhood food drives. He has also arranged for a temporary drop off location at the Boy Scout Council offices, located at 4316 Three J Road, Evans, Georgia 30809 and at the model home in Crawford Creek neighborhood in Evans.

Accepted donations are non-perishable food items, breakfast items (grits, oatmeal, cereal), dog and cat food, Ramen noodles, cake and brownie mixes, saltine crackers, travel sizes of hygiene items (adult and kids), small sizes of dish washing liquid and laundry detergent, and condiments (mustard, ketchup, salt and pepper).

For more information on how to donate throughout the year or to volunteer, please visit https://columbiacountycares.org.