Scouts able to fill wish lists
Boy Scout Troop 58's annual pancake breakfast to raise money for gifts for children in need was canceled this year, another casualty of COVID-19 restrictions.
But not only were troop members still able to have a gift-shopping spree Tuesday night at the Gibsonia Walmart, they also were able to do a little more as a result of the generosity of the community.
Every year in early November, Boy Scout Troop 58 in Glade Mills has a pancake breakfast at Glade Run Presbyterian Church to raise funds to purchase gifts for children in need in the community.
It's a tradition dating to 2002, said Scoutmaster Mark Gissendaner.“It's unfortunate we can't do the breakfast this year. It was also an aspect of learning for the Scouts, learning to serve and interact with people,” Gissendaner said.Instead, to raise money, the 45 members of the troop each wrote at least three letters to people they knew, explaining the program and requesting a donation in lieu of attending the breakfast.The response was remarkable, said Spencer Craft, 16, a member of the troop for five years.He said while the pancake breakfast would raise from $1,500 to $2,200, the donations in response to the letters this year totaled $5,849.Using a list compiled from churches, fire halls and individuals, the troop members went to Walmart Tuesday evening to buy gifts for 19 families with 39 children.“We reached out through our school, churches, anybody who knew families that needed help,” said troop member Tobias Webb, 12. The shopping lists given to the Scouts are anonymous, containing only the first names, sexes, and wants and needs of the children.
Thirty-eight Scouts and 12 parents spent two hours scurrying from clothing to shoes to the toy departments, filling out their lists.Webb said, “My group did two kids. Their needs were socks, hats and snow boots. One of the kids wanted a radio-controlled car, one wanted a bracelet-making kit.”Because of the extra money raised this year, troop member Tommy Spreng, 17, said each family will also receive a $120 grocery store gift card.Craft said he thinks a large portion of the increased donations came from Eagle Scouts and former troop members and their families.“I think with everything going on, when we explained the situation and how long we'd been doing it (the breakfast), it had more of an impact on the community,” said Tommy.Troop members will deliver the presents to families Dec. 19.Gissendaner said in an ordinary year the gifts would be wrapped before being delivered, but that might not be possible this year.Asked if the troop will have the pancake breakfast in 2021, Tommy said, “We can only hope. It's been a really interesting year. But it's been cool to be part of something to give back to the community.”“It's nice to see young guys taking care of the community,” Gissendaner said.
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