Boy Scouts from Troop 123 in North Merrick turned a few hours of community service into a major show of generosity, collecting a large supply of food and essential items to restock the Sister Patricia Turley, CSJ Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church on April 19.
Stationed outside Stop & Shop locations in Merrick and Bellmore, Scouts spent roughly three hours asking shoppers to pick up extra items for donation. What followed, according to Assistant Scoutmaster Tom Ferrante— who has been involved with the troop for about five years — exceeded expectations.
“We were floored by the amount of support that the community gave us,” he said. “People were bringing full carts of items — groceries, soaps, detergents — everything that the pantry needed.”
The effort was organized as a way for the troop to give back to Sacred Heart Church, which sponsors the group and provides space for meetings and activities. When troop leaders learned the pantry was running low, they stepped in to help.
Anne Heverin, who runs the pantry, said the impact was immediate.
“It was fantastic,” she said. “They provided me with an enormous amount of food to restock our shelves.”
The pantry serves about 35 families, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner items to those in need, and remains open to anyone in the community seeking assistance.
After collecting donations, Scouts transported what amounted to several SUV loads of food to the church. They didn’t just drop it off — they stayed to help sort and stock shelves, organizing everything from canned goods to pantry staples.
“When they came, I had the boys stock the shelves in the pantry,” Heverin said. “The older boys directed the younger boys, and within 45 minutes, they had everything organized beautifully.”
In addition to food donations, the troop also collected $365 in cash contributions, which will help the pantry purchase perishable items such as meat.
Troop 123 includes Scouts ranging in age from about 11 to 17, and recently saw its membership grow significantly after welcoming a large group of new recruits. For many of the younger Scouts, the food drive marked one of their first experiences with community service.
“It shows them a whole different side of the community that they might not recognize,” Ferrante said. “They see that there are families who need help, and it teaches them how important it is to give back.”
Heverin said the experience also benefited the Scouts by exposing them to the importance of helping others.
“It’s a great way for them to develop community spirit and community service,” she said. “I think they enjoyed the experience, worked very hard, and were proud of themselves for what they did.”
That lesson, Ferrante added, extends beyond a single event. The troop regularly participates in community efforts, from assisting at local festivals to helping with projects at the church.
“It’s contagious,” he said. “When you do something like this, everyone feels good about it — and it makes you want to do more.”
For Heverin, the support reflects a broader truth about the community.
“It takes a village to survive our economic times,” she said. “These young men helped their peers, helped the elderly — anyone who really needs help.”
