We needed a moment of positive Christmas cheer Thursday morning.

The front-page story lauding the Christmas creativity and accomplishments of Boy Scout Troop 58 brought an emotional reaction from us as we read through it. Troop 58 could have taken the year off. After all COVID-19 has caused groups of all sorts — including churches — to reduce the services and commitments they would normally have for their members.

Maybe no one would notice that these young men were not performing the same community activities and support that was customary in the history of the troop. For the past almost 20 years, the members of 58 who preceded them had learned about giving to the community by example.

Scoutmaster Mark Gissendaner and his Scouts could have declared a COVID holiday and probably no one outside the previous troop members would have noticed or objected.

But, hooray for them; this group of future leaders got creative instead.

They were not able to host the annual pancake breakfast but instead were challenged to find a different way to fund the Christmas gift drive that they would use the pancake breakfast proceeds to pay for.

Each member was challenged to write three letters to people they knew asking them to donate to assist the troop in continuing their history of providing gifts for the less fortunate.

And as usual, the community responded. Boy did it respond.

The troop usually raises about $2,000 from the pancake breakfast. The letters requesting support “flipped” $5,849. Three times the normal amount.” Ask and you shall receive, and receive they did.

This allowed the troop to expand the impact it would have on the community this year. A job well done.

Hopefully the troop will go back to hosting breakfast next year, maybe with special invitations going to those who supported them this year without any maple syrup coming their way. Those breakfasts are a great way to teach lessons including how to interact face to face with adults.

We congratulate them on the efforts they put forth, for not taking the easy road, for not giving up and for leading by example. Well done men.

Wear your mask.

— RV