Scouting for Food (SFF) is Scouting America National Capital Area Council’s (NCAC’s) largest annual community service project to help feed families in need by collecting non-perishable food and distributing it to local food pantries and food banks throughout the Washington, DC region.
For 40 years, Scouts across the Washington, DC metropolitan area have united to fight hunger through their annual campaign. This fall, our Scouts will once again mobilize thousands of youth and families to collect food donations for neighbors facing food insecurity.
Scouting for Food is one of the largest annual food drives in the region, engaging Scouts aged 5 to 20 across the District of Columbia; Maryland counties including Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s; and Virginia counties including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, and Culpeper—as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.
How you can donate to Scouting for Food:
Scouts offer a door-to-door campaign takes place on two consecutive weekends.
On the first Saturday of November (November 7, 2026) Scouts distribute notices at homes throughout their communities to inform the households about the food collection drive and provide specific instructions for the collection in each specific neighborhood.
On the second Saturday in November (November 14, 2026), the Scouts return to the homes to collect the bags/boxes of food, and then take the food to their local nonprofit food bank or food pantry.
This year Scouts from across the entire nation will be holding food collections on the same date – a National Day of Service. This shared day of giving will unite Scouts nationwide. 2026 is the inaugural year, with many details to come.
The goals of the campaign are:
1. Help feed local families in need.
2. Support our mission to inspire young Scouts to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the
Scout Oath and Law”.
3. Inspire our Scouts to continue providing community service and to enjoy living the Scout Oath (“…to help other people at all times, …”), Law (loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty) and Slogan (“Do a good turn daily”).
Will you help us reach our goal of donating 1 million pounds of food?
