LAPLACE — Although very young, members of Cub Scouts Pack 318 already know the value of taking care of their community. Over the past three weeks, approximately 20 Pack members and their families have collected nonperishable food donations for the St. John Ministry of Care.

During a Wednesday night meeting, Pack 318 presented a load of rice, beans, canned goods, boxed foods and juices to Annabelle Provence of the St. John Ministry of Care. The donations will help stock a food pantry open to local families who have fallen upon hard times this holiday season.

“This is our first year doing this,” Pack leader Tanya Daniels said. “We’re trying to get the boys more involved with the community.”

The Cub Scouts are familiar volunteers to the residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve. Each year, the children participate in a retired flag ceremony at the home. Next month, they will return to sing Christmas carols to the residents.

Cub Scouts and their families are gathering today (Nov. 16) for a Family Fun Day with games, 18 vendors and a $7 all-you-can-eat bowls following a gumbo cook-off contest. The event is open to the public.

During the Family Summer Fun Day held a few months ago, the scouts cleaned the splash pad at Regala Park in Reserve so all could use it.

Local Cub Scouts have also given back to the church community. After an overnight campout on the Lutheran Church grounds in LaPlace, Pack 318 rose early and cooked breakfast for the church members strolling in for the Sunday morning service.

Recently, one of the boys in Pack 318 was displeased to find graffiti on bathroom walls at his school. One of the Pack’s next projects is to assemble a group to clean the bathrooms at the school and repaint the stalls.

Taking pride in one’s school and community is a major theme of Cub Scouts, according to Daniels.

“They’re starting to notice these things and say, ‘That’s not the way this is supposed to be done,’” Daniels said.

Pack 318 will also be participating in the upcoming St. John Parish Fall Clean Sweep and interviewing their personal hometown heroes.

Camaraderie and exciting camping trips also await members. In January, the kids will spend the night at the U.S.S. Kidd in Baton Rouge and learn about World War II.

Cubs Scouts membership is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through third grade, and all prospective members are welcome to attend a meeting.

Pack 318 meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday nights at the Lutheran Church of the Galilean on U.S. 51 in LaPlace.

 

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