Boy Scouts in the Twin Valley Council will go door to door in local neighborhoods on Saturday collecting nonperishable food items for their annual Scouting for Food drive.

All food gathered will be weighed and then given to local food shelves.

Steve Brownlow, who is helping organize the drive, said this year’s goal is 6,000 pounds of food.

People wishing to donate are asked to place nonperishable items in the brown plastic grocery bag that was delivered this week with the Freeborn County Shopper. Any additional items can be placed in other grocery bags.

People should place their bags on the front doorstep of their house, and Scouts will be out collecting the food beginning at 10 a.m., Brownlow said.

People can also take donations to the Fairlane Building of the Freeborn County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to noon.

Monetary donations will be accepted and can be made payable to the Salvation Army Food Shelf or the Ecumenical Food Pantry at First Presybterian Church.

Every dollar donated during the drive is translated into one pound, said Albert Lea Salvation Army Capt. Jim Brickson. Last year’s drive collected about 5,000 pounds.

Brickson said the people who receive assistance from the food shelves are grateful for the help and are often humbled by the generosity of area residents.

“This is what sets Freeborn County apart from others, their determination to help those in need,” he said. “What an honor it is to be of service here.”

Scouts will be in Albert Lea and a few surrounding communities.

The Scouting for Food program began in 1988 when Scouts collected an estimated 65 million cans of nonperishable food across the nation. Since then, it has grown into an annual event.