Scavenger hunting for Salvation Army pantry

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

LUDINGTON — If you were out grocery shopping between 6 and 7 p.m. Thursday night, you may have seen several people frantically dash into the store, grabbing groceries and snapping pictures of themselves “squeezing the Charmin.”  The people were part of a scavenger hunt to buy groceries for The Salvation Army’s food pantry, which has been depleted. It was organized by Heidi Urka and Sara Bray.

My wife, Becky, and I partnered up with Matt and Jenny McMellen. Matt was our pilot while I served as navigator (I pretty easy task considering we were going to grocery stores). The women served as our clue-solvers and game planners, which we were thankful for because Matt and I would still be buying groceries right now.

The 11 four-person teams took off from Waterfront Park shortly after 6 p.m. We had one hour to gather certain food and toiletry items based on the clues they received. While the outcome was to buy food for the pantry, there was some competitiveness  as well. Participants received more points for the more food they bought and the more locations they bought it at, among other categories.

When we came back, the teams had purchased $1,700 worth of items for the pantry. Both Heidi and Sara they were very pleased with the results. The teams were treated to a dinner themselves when they got back.

The public can support The Salvation Army food pantry by dropping off non-perishable food items to The Salvation Army, 114 East Melendy Street, Ludington, Michigan 49431-2336 or by calling 231.843.3711.

This and other local initiatives can also be supported by sending financial gifts directly to The Salvation Army of Ludington, PO Box 681, Ludington, Michigan 49431-0681.