By Mitchelle Stephenson
Cub Scout Pack 853, comprised of den units from Shady Side, West River, Churchton and Deale, recently held a food drive with proceeds benefiting the South County Assistance Network, or SCAN, a food pantry that serves needy families in southern Anne Arundel County.
There are about 50 kids in the pack, and the group managed to collect about 1,300 nonperishable items. The food was delivered to SCAN, which operates out of St. James Church in Lothian.
The boys are all elementary school-aged.
The 10 dens in the pack received a challenge earlier this year - if each unit could get 100 percent participation to fill five bags of food, they would receive an ice cream party.
Each of the dens managed to reach that goal.
Scott Martin and Lynn Benning, two of the den leaders, credited fellow den leader Brian Christian with coordinating the drive.
Lynn said that each of the boys were given bags that they could give to family, friends and neighbors. Once the bags were filled, the Scouts would pick them up.
At the March Blue and Gold banquet celebrating Scouts, the boys brought the bags of food they had collected. Later, some of the boys went to the SCAN site in the basement of St. James Parish in Lothian to sort the food for distribution.
Max Benning, 9, was one of the Scouts who participated. He said that it was fun, "although we worked really hard."
"I felt like other people had empty stomachs, and the food drive can help them," Max said.
Max worked alongside his friend Jacob Goudy, 10, to sort the food at the pantry once it was delivered.
Dotty Fender is the volunteer coordinator at SCAN, and she said the need for food at the pantry is always growing.
"We get a couple of new families each time we are open," Dotty said. SCAN is open two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"The Cub Scouts have done an amazing job of collecting food and clothing over the last couple of years. The items will benefit over 300 families in south county," Dotty said.
Central Middle School sixth-grader Katie Mosier, 11, was recently named the winner of the Clean Air Partners Earth Day poster contest.
As a result, Katie got to be Clean Air Partners/Washington Metropolitan Council of Government's special guest at the Earth Day celebration on the Washington National Mall on Sunday, where she was interviewed by WUSA TV-9's weatherman Howard Bernstein. The interview was broadcast on the Sunday evening newscast.
In the poster, Katie drew four pictures, one in each corner. In the middle, a big blue Earth divided the drawings. On the left side were problems caused by pollution, like acid rain and vehicle exhaust. On the right side were solutions, like planting trees and bicycling when possible.
She created the poster as a part of an assignment from Kelly Berkley, her science teacher. Berkley submitted the posters of those who wanted to participate in the contest.
That was in March.
Katie found out recently that out of the 300 posters, hers was selected as the first place winner.
"We couldn't tell anyone until the official announcement on Friday," Katie said.
Another Anne Arundel County student, Maddy Ramsey, took second place. Maddy is a sixth-grader at Old Mill Middle.
As part of her prize, Katie will receive $150 at a banquet for the six winners at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore on May 20.
The West/Rhode Riverkeeper will begin its free kayaking program on the first and third Thursday of each month starting May 6. The evening program will begin at 5 p.m. and end a half-hour before sunset.
Kayaks, paddles and life vests will be provided on a first-come, first served basis. Both single and tandem kayaks are available. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of inclement weather, kayaking will be canceled or postponed.
Chris Trumbauer, the riverkeeper, said that the program is held to provide an opportunity for the community to get out on the water.
The launching point is Discover Village in Shady Side. Boats set off from Parish Creek at the mouth of the South River.
For more information, visit www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org.
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