As part of the Boy Scout Oath, each scout promises to always help other people. Local scouts come closer to fulfilling that promise by helping collect donations and distribute food for needy neighbors through the Boy Scouts of America’s Scouting for Food program.

One local boy scout troop discovered how they can live by the scout oath when they formed a partnership with a local grocery store, a needy food bank and a generous community. Bothell Troop 622 broke their previous Scouting for Food record last weekend when scouts collected and donated more than 7,500 pounds in donations to help feed low-income and homeless families living in North and East King County.

“It is great to see when the community comes together,” said scoutmaster, Andy Connor in a press release. “The partnership between Fred Meyer, our troop, and the Woodinville Storehouse Food Bank demonstrates how teamwork and service can really help those that need it.”

Boy scouts representing Troop 622 collected donations at the entrances of the Bothell Fred Meyer from June 9-11. The scouts collected nearly 6,670 pounds of non-perishable food donations and $852 in cash donations over the weekend.

“Every time our troop does a food drive, we’re continuously amazed at the generosity and giving hearts of or community and the can-do attitude of the Fred Meyer employees and our Scouts and families,” Connor said in the release.

The food bank will use the cash donation to purchase much-needed perishable foods such as eggs, dairy, fruits and vegetables for their clients in need.

The food bank estimates that for every dollar donated, they can turn that into approximately one pound of fresh food, bringing the boy scout’s total donation to 7,522 pounds of food from the community of Bothell.

“Thank you to everyone who donated, the Bothell Fred Meyer for hosting, and the other volunteers at the Woodinville Storehouse Foodbank who helped us offload and sort the nearly four tons of food,” Connor said in the release.

Boy Scout Troop 622 is planning to conduct another Scouting for Food service project at the Bothell Fred Meyer later this year, in November.