Scouts from Troop 46 – left to right – Garrett Nicholson, Maxwell Gedvila, Gerard O’Reilly, James O’Reilly, Michael Madera, Jared Spivak, Matthew Leanza, Andrew Hekl and Matthew Willins.

The boys from Troop 46 have been busy.

The Tuxedo/Sloatsburg Boy Scout Troop 46 recently organized a food drive for the Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry, where troop members gathered for instructions by Food Pantry Director Susan Meyers. The Food Pantry was filled to overflowing with bags of donated goods Troop 46 collected throughout the Woodlands and Hamilton Estates sections of Tuxedo.

Food Pantry Director Susan Meyers instructs troop members on how to sort their food drive haul.

The collection was a community service effort by the troop that will help the Food Pantry serve those in need over the holiday season.

Over the last few years, Troop 46 has been particularly busy launching members into Eagle Scouts — some four members have attained the feat, including Thomas Lorentz III,  Justin Leanza, Daniel Patrick Green, Daniel O’Leary, Jonathan Kraus, and Matt Leanza.

At the recent Food Pantry gathering, troop members sorted and stacked items piles of groceries and personal donations.

“We were able to collect over 50 bags of groceries for the food pantry,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Ed Gedvila. “The food will be distributed to those in need in Tuxedo and Sloatsburg for the holidays.”

Gedvila said thanks go out to all the people of the Woodlands, who gave generously, as well as the Food Pantry and all those who lent a hand to the troop effort.

“Special thanks to the Scouts who ran up and down the Woodlands at full speed dropping bags, picking up the food, delivering it to the Food Pantry, and for helping unload, separate and shelve all of those groceries,” Gedvila said. “They did an amazing job.”

Historian Troop 46 Gerard O’Reilly was also impressed with the Troop 46’s effort.

“The food drive was a huge success,” O’Reilly said. “We would like to thank those families in the Woodlands and Hamilton Estates for their donations towards this wonderful cause. The Sloatsburg Food Pantry helps feed many families in our local community.  We truly appreciate all that they do for our community.”

Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry

The Sloatsburg UMC Food Pantry’s mission is to provide supplemental, nutritionally balanced food to those in need while respecting the dignity of each person we serve. The UMC Food Pantry is located at the Sloatsburg United Methodist Church, 93 Orange Turnpike. Hours of operation are the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays 3-6 PM. Contact: Susan Meyer, Director (914-393-3160).

Photos courtesy of Tuxedo/Sloatsburg Troop 46.