Attention Caldwell County residents. It's once again time to dig through the food cabinets and get rid of those non-perishable food items you never will use.

But don't just throw them in the trash. Instead, organize the items and give them to local Boy Scout troops so they can share that food with people in need.

For the 19th year, the Piedmont Council of Boy Scouts of America will conduct its annual "Scouting for Food" drive Saturday, Nov. 21. More than 1,000 youth in 38 Scouting units will distribute door hangers on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Caldwell and Alexander counties. Those same scouts will return the following Saturday to distribute donated items to local food ministries, including the Lenoir Soup Kitchen, Yokefellow and South Caldwell Christian Ministries in Caldwell County.

Chris Scruggs, Boy Scout director for Caldwell and Alexander counties, said there are several ways community members can donate. He said they can place foods inside plastic bags and set them outside their front door by 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Troop members will collect the food by noon and distribute them to the ministries. Community members also can drop off their items at the Lenoir Soup Kitchen or South Caldwell Christian Ministries between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. that Saturday, Scruggs said.

If that day is not convenient, Scruggs said canned goods can be dropped off at Adam Sterken's State Farm office, located at 5234 Fairview Dr. SW, Lenoir, at any time. Sterken, an Eagle Scout, is organizing the event in an effort to help local residents who are without food this holiday season.

"This is a great opportunity for our Boy Scouts to get involved in our community," Sterken said. "Our local food ministries are in great need, especially due to the current economic situation. Their resources are tapped, and they are continuing to serve more and more people every day. We want to do our part to help."

Sterken said the goal is to collect items most needed for good nutrition. He said they are looking for items such as soup, beef stew, chili, meats, vegetables, fruit, pasta and other dry goods. The only foods they cannot accept are perishable, frozen or glass goods.

"Last year, we collected nearly 26,000 pounds of food for hungry people in Caldwell and Alexander counties," Scruggs said. "We hope to surpass that number this year to provide immediate help for local citizens who are hungry and raise awareness for a growing problem in our own community."

For more information, contact Chris Scruggs at (828) 313-0660.