16 | THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2026 MONTICELLO TIMES
ALL ABOUT KIDS
Scouts collect over 4,700 pounds of food for pantry
Annual effort also raises more than $ 1,200 cash for Monticello Help Center
LAUREN FLAUM Monticello Times
MONTICELLO— With bags of donations lining doorsteps across the city, local Scouts collected more than 4,700 pounds of food and $ 1,236 in cash during this year’ s Scouting for Food drive on April 25.
About 40 Scouts from Monticello Troops 3270 and 5270 and Cub Scout Packs 272 and 274, along with parent volunteers, took part in the annual effort, traveling throughout the city to gather donations left outside homes.
The donations support the Monticello Help Center, which serves hundreds of families each month.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Scouts from Monticello Troops 3270 and 5270 and Cub Scout Packs 272 and 274 pose with totals on Saturday, April 25 after this year’ s Scouting for Food drive, collecting more than 4,700 pounds of food and over $ 1,200 in cash donations for the Monticello Help Center, which they also helped to sort and box.
Mary Gardner, executive director of the Help Center, said the collection is the largest single-day food donation the organization receives from any one group each year.
Organizers credited the
strong turnout to Scouts and parent drivers covering neighborhoods across the city, knocking on doors and collecting bags of food left outside homes.
After collecting items, Scouts returned to the
Monticello Help Center Exectutive Director Mary Gardner said the collection is the largest single-day food donation the organization receives from any one group each year.
Help Center to help sort and box donations for distribution.
This year’ s total marks one of the strongest collections in recent years, up from about 3,700 pounds of food and $ 770 in cash donations last year.
Scouting for Food is a nationwide initiative that encourages Scouts to give back while learning about community service and hunger awareness.
We’ re opening soon! Enrollment is now open.
Save your child’ s spot today.
Scan QR code or visit us at KinderCare. com / Albertville
Albertville KinderCare 5951 Labeaux Ave NE Albertville, MN 55301( 833) 905- 3276
• Serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years
• Hours: 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, M-F
• Safe, secure learning environment
• License pending