Clifton Boy Scouts Help the Troops

Local Boy Scout Troop 1104 participated in its third major service project of the school year.

These bighearted Scouts collected items  and filled “care packages” for United States soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Based at Fort Meade, the soldiers regularly receive boxes of goodies and necessities from volunteers at home.

Troop 1104, which meets at the Clifton Presbyterian Church, was spurred into action by Clifton resident Bob Richard, whose son is an Eagle Scout. Richard received an emailed note about the gift boxes from Jean Skinner, an associate at Clark Construction.

“Community support for the care package events has sadly waned over the years,” Skinner’s email read. “I was the only non-military participant, and had I not gone, they would not have had enough to fill the boxes.”

Hearing that, the Scouts of Troop 1104 and their leaders went to work. In the Fairfax Station community of Glenverdant, 12-year-old Adam Chutuape headed the project. The intention is to fill 40 12 x 12 x 5.5 boxes and also to supply the postage, he said.

The list of supplies the soldiers needed and wanted was revealing: used magazines, DVDs, video games, potato chips (in cans like Pringles), nuts, instant coffee in small packets, hand wipes (travel size packs), individually packaged Wet Ones, Yo–Yos, Easy Mac, mole skin (for blisters), Cracker Jacks and crossword or sudoku puzzle books. These items, which may seem so inconsequential to us, bring home a little closer to the soldiers from Fort Meade.

The Scouts have been taking donations to their meetings for the past few weeks. Wednesday, May 4 was the final day for collecting.

 “A lot of folks have stepped up,” Jeanne Chutuape, Adam’s mother, said. “My optometrist donated a couple of cases of eye drops. A neighbor in Shadow Walk actually ordered 40 of the special cool ties, which are not cheap.”

The donations were taken to Fort Meade, where they will be prepared for shipping.

 “Your collection is awesome!,” Jean Skinner said. “I do believe the folks at Ft. Meade are going to be absolutely astounded when we show up with all this.”

With the present generosity of his community and Troop 1104’s hard work, their good deeds once more will shine brightly.

“Your generosity in the past has allowed Troop 1104 to continue the Boy Scout tradition of Good Turns for others,” Adam Chutuape said.