Scouts Community Service
- Blanket making before with rolls of fabric ready to be measured and cut and the after picture with all the blankets folded and ready to be delivered to the Lookout Shelter.
Within Scouting we talk about giving back but how can we give back in different ways? The 6th St. Agnes shared with us how they gave back to the lookout shelter. This story comes from Ken Gregson:
I work for a wholesale textile distributor out in Delta. About 5 years ago our company was approached by the Get Warm Project, a charitable group based in the Vancouver's West End that helped the homeless on the Downtown East Side. Working out of the west end the project
focuses on helping those in Vancouver who need to stay warm but are struggling to find a home.
I asked more about the work they did and learned that they actually send volunteers to what's referred to as the downtown east side and distribute blankets. Hearing that was the spark that I needed to bring this idea to our next scout meeting.
I collected the fabric and took it to our meeting hall on our regular meeting night. The Scouts spent the meeting measuring off 2 meter lengths on the floor with masking tape, we roll about the fabric on the floor from one end to the other (you can get about 4 rolls done side by side at once) and started cutting, folding and packing into large fabric bags to deliver. We loaded up our cars and headed down to the corner of Hastings and Main. The Scouts saw a different part of Vancouver than most of them were used to but it was an eye-opener and the parents were fully on board with it.
For the last 10 years all Sections of 6th St Agnes have been involved with the Lookout Shelter here in North Vancouver to raise merchandise to put into packages the shelter hands out to its clients on Christmas morning. It starts in mid-October when Ken Oxenham, a volunteer at the shelter comes and visits our hall. He talks to the youth about the shelter and the work they do and most importantly the people who rely on it. Each section spends all of November either raising money to shop for items or gathering the items themselves that we then deliver to the Lookout Shelter in early December. Beavers collect toothbrushes and toiletries, Cubs collect money and shop for socks and underwear and Scouts focus on toques, hats and gloves.
This past year on our Christmas tour one of the Scouts asked one of the staff leading us through the tour what they needed the most as far as donations go. Without missing a beat our guide replied, "Blankets. A blanket can at least give them some comfort and be of a real need". As soon as I heard that I knew our blanket project was back up and running, with a different recipient but going to the same purpose in our community.
This year, after 2 meetings we've delivered over 400 blankets to the Lookout.
A special thanks to Ken and the 6th St Agnes for sharing such a great project.
I work for a wholesale textile distributor out in Delta. About 5 years ago our company was approached by the Get Warm Project, a charitable group based in the Vancouver's West End that helped the homeless on the Downtown East Side. Working out of the west end the project
focuses on helping those in Vancouver who need to stay warm but are struggling to find a home.
I asked more about the work they did and learned that they actually send volunteers to what's referred to as the downtown east side and distribute blankets. Hearing that was the spark that I needed to bring this idea to our next scout meeting.
I collected the fabric and took it to our meeting hall on our regular meeting night. The Scouts spent the meeting measuring off 2 meter lengths on the floor with masking tape, we roll about the fabric on the floor from one end to the other (you can get about 4 rolls done side by side at once) and started cutting, folding and packing into large fabric bags to deliver. We loaded up our cars and headed down to the corner of Hastings and Main. The Scouts saw a different part of Vancouver than most of them were used to but it was an eye-opener and the parents were fully on board with it.
For the last 10 years all Sections of 6th St Agnes have been involved with the Lookout Shelter here in North Vancouver to raise merchandise to put into packages the shelter hands out to its clients on Christmas morning. It starts in mid-October when Ken Oxenham, a volunteer at the shelter comes and visits our hall. He talks to the youth about the shelter and the work they do and most importantly the people who rely on it. Each section spends all of November either raising money to shop for items or gathering the items themselves that we then deliver to the Lookout Shelter in early December. Beavers collect toothbrushes and toiletries, Cubs collect money and shop for socks and underwear and Scouts focus on toques, hats and gloves.
This past year on our Christmas tour one of the Scouts asked one of the staff leading us through the tour what they needed the most as far as donations go. Without missing a beat our guide replied, "Blankets. A blanket can at least give them some comfort and be of a real need". As soon as I heard that I knew our blanket project was back up and running, with a different recipient but going to the same purpose in our community.
This year, after 2 meetings we've delivered over 400 blankets to the Lookout.
A special thanks to Ken and the 6th St Agnes for sharing such a great project.
Scout Emergency Preparedness with NSEP
Other events that happen during our Scouting year:
Candlelight Vigil - Early September
Scoutoree - Early September
Investiture - Early October
Apple Day - Mid October
Halloween activity -TBA
Remembrance day - Ceremony at Cates Park - Scouts supply Hot Dogs
Outlook Shelter - early December
Christmas tree sales - Christmas Tree Lot opens November 24th 2018 -(opening day to be confirmed)
Camp-In-A-Box - December for Cubs and Scouts
Christmas Campfire - December 15th
Christmas Hamper Delivery for Lynn Valley Legion - December ?
Christmas Tree Chip-up - January 4 & 5 -2020
Senior Centre indoor campfire
Beaver Buggies
Kub Kars
Torchligh Parade - Hike For Hunger
Baden Powell dinner
Scout Sunday
Swim-up/leap-up/climb up
Scoutrees
Pitch-In-Canada
Nite Hike
Camporee
JOTT
Busy Beaver Camp
Camp Paddletail
All-sections Year End Activity
Year end BBQ - TBA
Lynn Valley Day parade
Canada Day parade
Candlelight Vigil - Early September
Scoutoree - Early September
Investiture - Early October
Apple Day - Mid October
Halloween activity -TBA
Remembrance day - Ceremony at Cates Park - Scouts supply Hot Dogs
Outlook Shelter - early December
Christmas tree sales - Christmas Tree Lot opens November 24th 2018 -(opening day to be confirmed)
Camp-In-A-Box - December for Cubs and Scouts
Christmas Campfire - December 15th
Christmas Hamper Delivery for Lynn Valley Legion - December ?
Christmas Tree Chip-up - January 4 & 5 -2020
Senior Centre indoor campfire
Beaver Buggies
Kub Kars
Torchligh Parade - Hike For Hunger
Baden Powell dinner
Scout Sunday
Swim-up/leap-up/climb up
Scoutrees
Pitch-In-Canada
Nite Hike
Camporee
JOTT
Busy Beaver Camp
Camp Paddletail
All-sections Year End Activity
Year end BBQ - TBA
Lynn Valley Day parade
Canada Day parade