The community has supported Scouts and The Pantry in a big way for more than 10 years on Super Bowl weekend, and organizers hope that trend continues this weekend.

While you’re out shopping Saturday for your Super Bowl party, plan to see local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts handing out lists of items needed for The Pantry, Oxford’s food pantry for those in need throughout the county.

“It’s real important because they bring in a lot of food for us,” said pantry organizer Betty Robinson. “Usually it’s enough to last the whole month — sometimes into March. It brings in a whole bunch of food for us, and they also collect money. With the money they bring in we’re able to purchase other food. With the exception of the mail carrier, it’s one of our biggest food drives.”

The Scouts will be at Kroger, Walmart and Larsons Cash Saver from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are ready to take loads of canned goods back to the food bank.

“For 13 years, local Girl Scouts from 5-year-old Daisies to 17-year-old Ambassadors have come together on Super Bowl weekend to ask the community to donate to the food pantry,” said Scout organizer Susan Kelly. “The Boy Scouts of Troop 144, ages 12-16, joined in our efforts three years ago.

“It is always a fun and rewarding experience for the Scouts as well as the wonderful pantry volunteers. Scouting teaches the importance of serving others. This is our way of giving back to our community, being good citizens and making the world a better place.”

Robinson said while older Scouts usually are at the grocery stores, the younger Scouts come help at The Pantry facility, unloading items and stocking shelves.

“It gets all the scouts involved,” Robinson said.