Eddie Wallace bounded across the parking lot grinning with enthusiasm despite the early hour – just past 8 a.m.

He held a plastic grocery bag with canned goods above his head as a sign of victory.

He was racing to the front doors of Petosa’s Family Grocery. A large white banner hung nearby announcing the Scouting for Food drive. The 12-year-old wanted to leave no doubt about how he felt about participating.

“I think it’s a great cause for helping people,” said Eddie, a member of Boy Scout Troop 312 in Edmonds.

His troop is one of 17 scouting groups participating in the drive, which continues through April 6. Scouts will staff the sites over the weekend.

With Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and co-ed teen Venturing groups involved, it is being called the largest food drive ever undertaken by scouts in South Snohomish County.

Scouting groups from Alderwood Manor, Bothell, Canyon Park, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo and Thrashers Corner are participating. Scouts will be at area grocery stores this weekend.

“We’ve been preparing for this for months, and it’s been on our calendar since the end of summer,” said Marie DuBois, whose son, Danny, 13, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 312.

The troop meets at Edmonds United Methodist Church, also the home of the Edmonds Food Bank.

“The need goes on year-around,” Marie DuBois said. “There are hungry among us now.”

No one knows that better than three women standing just inside the grocery store doors, all of whom volunteer at the Edmonds and Lynnwood food banks.

“Usually, all you hear (about kids) is that they’re in front of their computers or video games,” said Judy Finn, assistant director of the Lynnwood Food Bank.

“We’ve all been grandparents,” said Peggy Kennedy, who directs the Edmonds Food Bank. “We love them.”

The Scouts’ food drive began four years ago with a challenge between a Cub Scout pack and a Boy Scout troop, said Steve Cook, a district scouting leader.

That effort resulted in 2,000 cans of food – three to four times larger than previous efforts.

Next, Scouts decided to take the effort districtwide and bring in more scouting groups. Last year, 12,000 cans of food were donated, Cook said.

This year, Cook’s son Kevin, 17, a member of a Venture crew, wanted to take the effort even further. The goal is to collect 40,000 cans of food. Donations will be given to community food banks throughout the south county area.

Some of Petosa’s grocery store customers handed the Scouts money. Danny DuBois responded to a $20 bill put in his hand with a whoop of joy and didn’t waste any time spending it on food for the drive.

Randel Clifton of Edmonds was one of the customers making a donation. “People need stuff; I’m able to give a little.

“Good luck guys,” he said as he turned to walk away.