For the Wolves Den 14 Cub Scouts of Pack 238, their donation of food to the Union Mission Wednesday night was heartfelt.

“It’s like you’re helping other people to save them so they won’t starve to death,” said scout Zachary Simpson, who along with other members of the den met at Timeless Tea to give the items to Daniel Johnson and Charles Batzel of the Union Mission.

“It helps me by helping people who don’t have any food and are starving,” said scout Bryon Anderson.

Scouts give the box to Daniel Johnson.

Batzel, Union Mission store manager, said the donation of ham, canned goods and other items helps keep shelves of the mission’s food pantry stocked. It also helps the scouts learn about community involvement, he said. “You get them involved early when they’re young and they will do it when they get older.”

Carla Hutcherson, den mother, said the Union Mission donation will help the scouts earn their community badges. “We’ve just started. This was their first assignment.”

The scouts will also go to Magnolia Gardens Senior Care to do deeds for the elderly, she said.

Like Batzel, Hutcherson believes activities like this will help the scouts continue to be civic minded. “I would hope so. They’re so innocent, so giving at this age. They’re not judgmental and want to help everybody.”