Scouts collect groceries for Operation Provider

By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY

Senior Writer

 

Mountain area Boy Scouts from Troop 89 joined forces with Cub Scout Pack 264 on Saturday, Nov. 9 to collect food items from grocery stores in Crestline, Blue Jay and Lake Arrowhead. The groceries collected, said local Boy Scout Council Commissioner Jim Newcomb, will be donated to Rimforest-based Operation Provider for distribution to families in need of sustenance during the rapidly approaching holiday period.

Last Saturday’s annual food collection event in Crestline kicked off at 9 a.m. with 15 Boy Scouts and one Cub Scout from Den 264 assembled in front of the recently reopened Goodwin’s Market. Assistant Scoutmaster Chris Rafferty explained that last year, the troop was able to collect about 500 pounds of canned and packaged food, enough, he said, to fill the bed of his pickup, as well as $800 in cash donations from customers.

Goodwin’s Market Vice President and General Manager Mike Johnstone told the Alpine Mountaineer, “We’re happy to support deserving causes in the mountain area. It’s great to help them out.”

Rafferty said their troop is very active and that they go on frequent day trips as well as campouts to places such as the Mojave Trail, Joshua Tree and Glamis. Recently, they trekked to nearby Pilot Rock where they put on helmets and went rock climbing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Before heading up to Jensen’s in Blue Jay and Stater Bros. in Lake Arrowhead, Rafferty said he believes the troop will exceed last year’s amount of food collected. When asked what inspired him to become a Boy Scout, 14-year-old Cru Pierce replied, “Because I like helping people and I want to become an Eagle Scout.”  Cru added that he had also enjoyed the troop’s day trip to the Pinnacles and a two-night, three-day hike to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio.

According to Troop 89 Scoutmaster Charles DeBruyn, when all was said and done, by 4 p.m. on Saturday, the Scouts had collected 1,300 pounds of food and $1,300 in cash donations. “I know this because we filled 13 shopping carts, each with about 100 pounds of groceries,” he said, adding that all of the proceeds were delivered to Operation Provider CEO Holland Lowe for distribution to local families in need.