From Staff Reports

Dozens of Cub Scouts ranging in age from 6 to 11 will be converging on the streets of Van Alstyne on Saturday, Feb. 13, to participate in the annual "Scouting for Food" food drive. This is a long-held scouting tradition and a great way for these young men to serve their communities.

According to the local Texoma Valley scouting district, Scouting for Food brings more than 16,000 food items every year to hungry families here in Texoma and is the largest annually-recurring food drive in North Texas/Southern Oklahoma.

Cub Scouts will be delivering bright yellow plastic bags to homes all over Van Alstyne on Saturday, Feb. 13, to be filled with non-perishable food items for collection the following Saturday by the Van Alstyne Boy Scouts in Troop 44. The food is distributed to local area food pantries and churches, to meet the needs of hungry families in our community. The scouts hope that everyone will be looking for their yellow bags and will participate this year, to make it one of the largest food drives ever.

The scouts have enjoyed a busy January while looking forward to the February food drive. The monthly Pack Meeting held Jan. 21 saw several scouts receive awards and achievements they have been working on this year, from the first grade Tiger Cubs all the way up to the fifth grade Webelos II, who will be "crossing over" to Boy Scouts at the end of the school year.

Several of the boys received "progress toward rank" beads for their uniforms, as well as "belt loops" for specific accomplishments. Many also received patches for participating in various events, such as the Christmas parade and the "Poptober" popcorn fundraiser. Top sellers were awarded in each den, and Pack 6 overall was honored for selling the most popcorn of any Texoma Valley district Cub Scout pack.

Special recognition was given to four of the Webelos II, as "Super Achievers" who have earned all 20 of their achievement pins: Nick Cain, Ricky Armor, Blake Broussard and Nathan Ethridge. Only eleven achievements are required for completing the Webelos scouting level, so these four young men have definitely gone above and beyond.

February also marks the 100th anniversary of scouting in America, so is a time of celebration for the local scouting community. As you see scouts participating in the community this month, be sure and wish them a "Happy Anniversary!"