“We’ll have some collection areas with bins or boxes and that way serve two purposes...volunteers who are helping with the race are going to meet at City Hall at 10:30 a.m. The Scouts and Explorers will be there also,” to make sure that canned goods donated by the race volunteers are a good start to the community charitable effort.The stretch of East Ventura Street separating City Hall and Veterans Park will be closed during the race festivities, including a SPPD Bicycle Rodeo for the kids.Lt. Juarez, whose 15-year-old son James is a member of Troop 305, said that he and Scout leaders believe that the backdrop of the Amgen Tour “provides a good opportunity to collect quite a bit of food. People can leave canned goods at City Hall or keep an eye out for Scouts who will be glad to receive it. As long as the cans have no dents or are not out of code we’ll take any kinds of canned food.”Scouting for Food is held each year to coincide with the annual anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America, an effort that not only feeds the hungry but also helps Scouts experience the positive feeling of doing a good deed.Canned goods with a high nutritional value - such as meats, vegetables, soups and peanut butter - are especially welcome.“Bring a can of food and if you see a Scout or an Explorer they’ll be glad to take it from you,” said SPPD Det. David Lusk, coordinator of the SPPD Explorer program.Det. Lusk can be reached at 933-951.Volunteers are still being sought for the Amgen California Tour: contact Sgt. Ismael Cordero at 933-4236 for more information.
Amgen Race: Scouting for Food could benefit from combining events
February 21, 2007
Santa Paula News
Thousands of community members who are expected to line the route for Saturday’s 2nd Annual Amgen California Tour bicycle race will have the opportunity to help those in need by a simple gesture...bring a can of food.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThousands of community members who are expected to line the route for Saturday’s 2nd Annual Amgen California Tour bicycle race will have the opportunity to help those in need by a simple gesture...bring a can of food.Saturday is also national Scouting for Food Day and Santa Paula scouts will appreciate all canned food donations according to SPPD Lieutenant Carlos Juarez.“This year Scouting for Food is the same day as the Amgen Tour,” providing Scouts a serendipitous opportunity to collect food from those who will line the streets to watch the bicyclists noted Lt. Juarez.The race is expected to pass through Santa Paula at approximately 11:50 a.m. but festivities are planned at Veterans Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.“We’re asking everybody that attends the race to please bring one can of food,” to hand over to roaming scouts and Explorers or to leave at collection stations, including one that will be located outside of City Hall.Collected canned goods will be donated to Community Assistance of Santa Paula (CASP) which each year provides thousands of meals to those in need.“One of our newest SPPD Explorers, Eddie Lopez, will get the Scouts together that day” and match them with other Explorers to Scout for Food.“Then later Explorers will accompany the Scouts as they go out Scouting for Food door-to-door,” and along the Highway 150/10th Street race route, noted Lt. Juarez.
