(WSIL) -- Normally this time of year, scouts put blue bags on the front doors of households across southern Illinois.
Locals fill them with what canned and non-perishable items they can afford, and scouts return to pick up the bags and take them to area food pantries.
This year, COVID-19 health and safety precautions are changing the way the will take place.
Those wishing to donate will now bring the groceries to the scouts one of two ways.
The first option is finding the closest location where a drive-thru event is taking place on Saturday, November 21st.
Scouts and their leaders will get the food out of the car, so its a fast and easy process.
The other is going to a location with a drop-box inside, which will continue collecting items until December 13th.
The last way to donate is through the ‘Text to Give� campaign –�Text “SCOUTFOOD� to 91999 to donate.
A $25 donations will provide up to 100 meals.
Drive-thru events and locations are listed below:
Murphysboro
Nov. 21st Drive thru food drop off at the Murphysboro Food Pantry 9 am � 11 am, 906 North 14th Street, Murphysboro
The Murphysboro Food Pantry also has an exterior food drop off box (Eagle Project), which is checked daily, so food donations can be dropped off at any time.
Harrisburg
Nov 16th � 20th Food drop off at Home Town Tax, 202 South Capitol Street, Harrisburg during business hours, M-Th., 8 am to 3 pm; Friday, 8 am to noon.
Johnston City
Nov. 21st Food drop off, 9 am to 1 pm at the United Methodist Church and Ministerial Alliance and the Manna Mission, both on Broadway in Johnson City.
Marion
Nov. 21st Food drop off 9 am to noon, east door Zion United Church of Christ, 930 West Cherry St., Marion.
Nov. 21st Food drop off 9 am to noon, Full Gospel Tabernacle church, 301 W. Deyoung St., Marion
Cambria
Nov. 21st Drive Thru food drop off, 9am to Noon, Cambria Food Pantry, 302 South Richart St., Cambria, IL
Carterville
Nov. 21st Drive Thru food drop off, 9am to 11 am, Carterville Food Pantry, Old Library Building, 117 South Division St. Carterville, IL
Hurst
Nov. 21st Drive Thru food drop off, 9am to Noon, Hurst Food Pantry, 111North Bush Avenue, Hurst, IL
Herrin
Nov 21st Drive Thru food drop off, 9am to 1 pm South Side Lumber, 1300 South Park Ave., Herrin IL
Food drop off at the Herrin BSA Service Center, 803 East Herrin, Herrin, IL, during office hours � M-F 9:30 am to 12:30 pm � 1 pm to 4:30 pm. (Closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday)
Benton
Nov. 21st Drive Thru food drop off, 10 am to 1 pm, Benton American Legion #280/ Veterans of Foreign Wars, 311 South Main, Benton, IL
Food Collection locations with food drop-off in bins inside:
Gorham
- Gorham Community Center, 306 Washington Street in Gorham, IL
Sand Ridge
- Sand Ridge Baptist Church in Sand Ridge, IL
Raddle
- St. Ann's Catholic Church, 101 Raddle Church Lane in Raddle, IL.
Anna
- Dollar General, 101 Springfield Avenue, Anna, IL
- Kroger Store, 45 Plaza Drive, Anna, IL.
Jonesboro
- Dollar General, 607 East Broad St., Jonesboro, IL
Dongola
- Dollar General, 315 NE Front St., Dongola, IL
Pinckneyville
- Perry County Market Place, 412 South Main St., Pinckneyville, IL
Cambria
- Casey’s General Store, 917 South Maple St. Cambria, IL
Carterville
- Casey’s General Store, 1207 South Division St., Carterville, IL
- Borowiak’s IGA Foodliner, 1114 South Division St. Carterville, IL
- Dollar General, 314 West Plaza, Carterville, IL
Herrin
- Kroger Store, 1609 South Park Ave., Herrin, IL. Collection bin inside the Exit door.
Hurst
- Casey’s General Store, 16060 Cambria Road, Hurst, IL
Carbondale
- Dollar General Store, 110 North Giant City Road, Carbondale, IL
- Dollar General Store, 5555 Old Highway 51, Carbondale, IL
- Dollar General Store, 2160 West Ramada Lane, Carbondale, IL
- Dr. Joseph Hudgins Orthodontics, 1180 Cedar Court, Carbondale, IL
- Castle Perilous Games and Books, 207 West Main, Carbondale, IL
- Kroger Store, 501 North Giant City Road, Carbondale, IL
