Alongside Rahut, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless, Troop 154 has been cooking fresh breakfasts every Saturday for the underserved, under the Fremont Feed the Hungry initiative. This service started over a year ago when Troop 154 scout Rithwik Seth contacted Rahut to offer help and engage the troop. Rahut had originally been giving packaged food to some of the homeless and scouts initially helped them distribute these packages. However, the officers of Rahut and Rithwik devised a better alternative that utilized the cooking skills of the scouts from Troop 154.
The Fremont City government had moved many of the homeless to the Islander Motel to keep them safe due to COVID. So, every Saturday, a few scouts and Rahut members would meet at the Islander motel to cook a fresh breakfast consisting of omelets and pancakes for the homeless in the area. Fresh eggs, milk, and pancake mix are donated each week, and the team members prepare the meals to order. Additional items, like vegetables, cheese, and more, are donated by Rahut members and even the families at Islander Motel. Overall, each person who comes receives a freshly cooked meal.
When the COVID pandemic hit a new high in December 2020, the troop stopped in-person activities to ensure safety for everyone involved. To accommodate for this, scouts began to make meals at their own homes, following proper safety procedures such as using gloves and masks while cooking. They then delivered these meals to a Rahut officer, who distributed the meals to the homeless. This entire process was done with minimal contact to keep everyone safe. Through this effort, Troop 154 and Rahut were able to ensure that they could help those in need during this extremely trying time.
Since then, Troop 154 and Rahut have been working weekly to help those in their community. Recently, they were recognized by Ro Kanna and Fremont city government officials for their hard work at a recognition ceremony. The scouts Aditya Kancharappu, Kevin Yan, Rikhil Seth, and Rithwik Seth from Troop 154 were also recognized for their dedication and repeated contributions.
Communities provide a safe environment for people to grow and develop. The people in a community help each other every day, ensuring that everyone gets what they need. Especially during hard times, giving back to the community and helping those in need is one of the most important things anyone can do, which is why services like Fremont Feed the Hungry are so impactful and meaningful.