Boy Scouts collect food for needy

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Thousands of Boy Scouts braved the cold weather across New England Saturday morning -- scouting for food to help those in need.

They were dropping off bags for the 24th Annual Scouting for Food Drive. About 200 Rhode Island scouts took part in the event. Pulling out their street maps, the put plastic bags out on doorsteps to collect food for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

Next Saturday, November 5th, the scouts will be back in the neighborhood to collect the bags, they hope will be filled with non-perishable food items. People may also drop off their filled bags to any Walgreens store.

"With the economy the way it is, we just hope they be generous and just do what they can," Scout Master Jim Bennett told Eyewitness News.

Last year's drive collected over 300,000 pounds of food, most of which was distributed to local food banks.

For more information on the Scouting for Food Drive, click here .