OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) -- More than a dozen Airmen here helped unload and store 168 cases of popcorn local Boy Scouts of America troops donated to Offutt AFB for deploying Airmen.
About 420 Boy Scouts contributed to this effort, raising more than $100,000. They are also sending portions of the donated popcorn to the 85th Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, and other military organizations.
"I believe the Boy Scouts of America and the military go hand in hand," said Elizabeth Harrington, the Mid-America Council campaign manager. "Both organizations have the same beliefs, and many Boy Scouts go on to join the military. It's part of our oath to give back to our community, and I can't see many better ways to do so than giving back to our military members."
Members of the Boy Scouts of America's Mid-America Council spent a large portion of this year's popcorn sale campaign soliciting donations for servicemembers in addition to raising money for their own scouting needs.
Patrons were able to donate a $25 box of popcorn or contribute to donation jars that was used to buy more boxes of popcorn.
Ms. Harrington also said the donation drive for the military helped increase overall sales from last year.
"We sold approximately $3.5 million worth of popcorn this year, which is up from last year when we placed fourth in the nation for sales with $3.3 million," she said.
The popcorn sale, which lasted from Oct. 2 through Oct. 30, provides local scouting organizations with a 70 percent return from their sales.