Cubs collect supplies to send
to the American Red Cross

Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.

They might be young, but the Monticello Cub Scouts Troop 803 did their own part in helping aid victims of Hurricane Michael after the storm devastated towns and coastlines following the October landfall.
According to Phil Smith, one of the troop leaders, the Cub Scouts came up with the idea of collecting supplies for Hurricane Michael victims after it was suggested to them by members of the community as a good service project for the young troop.
Service projects are a big part of the Cub Scouts program, and the youngsters already stay busy by visiting shut-ins and nursing home residents and similar projects.
“We were so fortunate to avoid the worst of the storm,” writes Smith. “The boys felt like it (collecting supplies) was the right thing to do.”
The Cub Scouts 803 troop is made up of six young men between the ages of 5-8, and they collected their hurricane supplies at a pack meeting of the troop.
The collected food items and cleaning supplies were boxed up and transported to Tallahassee, where the supplies and food items were put in the hands of the American Red Cross on October 22.
According to Smith, the woman who collected the items was a Red Cross volunteer whose own home had been destroyed by Hurricane Michael.
“She stated that the fact that since such young donors were involved, the items were that much more appreciated,” added Smith.
For the six Monticello Cubs, collecting the food supplies and cleaning items for the individuals and families who were devastated by the hurricane was an easy decision and heartfelt gesture of kindness.
According to six-year-old Ryder Lacy, the Cub Scouts just wanted to be helpful.
“We didn’t want them (hurricane victims) to be hurt,” said Lacy.
Landon Howard, another Cub Scout who is seven-year-old says: “People were in need and they needed stuff to live and they were running out of stuff.”
“We don't want them to get hurt,” adds Connor Williams, a seven-year-old Cub Scout. “We didn’t want their houses to get wrecked.”
Kaleb Gray, another Cub Scout, says that they chose to help the Hurricane Michael victims so that the people could have what they needed to survive.
“It’s important to help them so they have food, water and they can survive,” adds Gray.
The Monticello Cub Scouts 803 meet two Sundays out of every month at the Eagles Nest, which is located on S. Water St., near the VFW Post.
The Monticello Cubs are sponsored by the Monticello Kiwanis Club; in addition, the Kiwanis members also sponsor the Boy Scout Troop 803.
Parental involvement is a big part of the Cub Scouts program and meetings, and boys and girls between the ages of five and eight are able to join.
For more information about joining, contact Phil Smith at (850) 509-1873, or Shelia Lacy at (850) 445-7523.
The troop’s Cubmaster is Jeremiah Gray.