September 9, 2005

Scouts from Troop 296 raised $4,640 for hurricane relief on Sept. 3. (Back row) Blair Chatham, Michael Hicks, Victor Tun, Curtis Elwin, Zach Atwood, Aaron Trammell, Drew Atwood, Brian Trammell and Doug Gallatin. (Front row) Andrew Truong, Tyler Archie, Nick Sohm, Andrew Garcia, Drew Gallatin, Joshua Vaughan, Pranav Mimidi, Bryn Worden and Jeremy Aylard. Cub Scout: Brian Truong. Not pictured: Albert and Anthony Wong.

Troop 296 raises money for hurricane relief

Boy Scouts from Evergreen’s Troop 296 gathered together Sept. 3 to decide what they could do to help the people suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The boys decided to get into their Boy Scout uniforms, make signs and decorate coffee cans to ask for donations to send to the American Red Cross. Cosen-tino’s, Lunardi’s, SaveMart and the Evergreen Market Place allowed the boys to represent the Red Cross outside their stores.

The troop set a goal of collecting $500 for the American Red Cross. Thanks to the caring shoppers who opened their hearts and wallets at the above mentioned stores, the Scouts collected more than $2,200 in one hour. With corporate support, Troop 296 more than doubled the donation to $4,640 for Hurricane Relief in New Orleans.

“This was a rewarding experience for the boys to contribute,” said Scouting mom Cristin Sohm. “At first they were shy and quiet, but soon realized that they were doing a good thing helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Often people would give a donation on their way into the store and again on the way out of the store!”

Sohm said many people stopped to thank the boys for standing in the hot sun to do this for the people in New Orleans. “The boys enjoyed making a difference and swelled with pride when they realized how much money they were able to donate to the American Red Cross.”

Anyone interested in making additional donations can bring them to Troop 296’s charter church, Evergreen Valley United Methodist Church, or to the American Red Cross online at www.redcross.org.