Penticton Scouts and Girl Guides are going to put the problem of hunger on their backs as the Hike for Hunger makes a return to the area.
The event is a traditional bridge with Girl Guides and Scouts working together dating back to the early days of Scouts, however, the hike has not taken place in Penticton for some time.
“It’s an event that we did probably 15 years ago in Penticton. I’m not sure why it died out, but we’re looking to revive it,” said Jacinda Pownall, group commissioner for the Second Penticton Scouts.
The groups are asking for Penticton residents to drop donations of food off at Safeway or the Salvation Army Community Food Bank prior to March 5, when Girl Guides and Scouts are going to march from Safeway to the Salvation Army with the food on their backs.
Pownall has been working to revive the tradition for the past few years, one set as a bridge between Girl Guides and Scouts dating back to founders Robert and Olave Baden-Powell.
“It’s something Scouts and Girl Guides have done together for years,” said Samantha Adams, district commissioner for South Five Girl Guides.
On Feb. 22 the Second Penticton Scouts and Penticton Girl Guides were joined by Cubs, Beavers and Venturer Scouts as they celebrated Lord Baden-Powell’s birthday. Kids enjoyed skits and an award ceremony to celebrate the anniversary of 109 years of Scouts in Canada.
“There is a lot of people in our area that need help right now. We’d really like to help with that and it’s good community service for our kids. It’s something we try to teach them. There’s not too many opportunities out there to teach your kids about community service, so we try to bring that into our programming,” Pownall said.
Penticton has 74 scouts ages five to 17, and nearly 150 Girl Guides. Not all the Scouts and Guides are taking part in the hike, but Girl Guides from Summerland to Princeton will be taking part.
The groups are looking to make the event an annual one.
“Hopefully this can be successful and we can do it again next year,” Pownall said.
For more information visit www.scouts.ca.