Listen to this article
Scouts respond to leader’s call to action.
Recently, The Salvation Army’s Southern California Division received a donation for the Japan recovery effort from a local Boy Scout troop. Major Ian Robinson, divisional community relations and development director, relates how this donation came to be.
Rocked to the core by the devastating scenes of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Scoutmaster Tom Field, Boy Scout Troop 754 of Newbury Park, Calif., was moved to do something. In an email to his troop members, he asked them to do three things: 1. Make a family donation toward the cause; 2. Go door to door and ask for donations; and 3. Write a personal letter to the survivors of the tragedy.
After receiving several donations of between $1–5, one group of scouts was amazed and uplifted when one gentleman thanked them for their efforts and gave them a check for $100. Another donor gave them $10 and said, “Go to that house and tell the owner to match it.” They followed his instructions—the owner gave the boys $20 and sent them back to the original house to tell him to match the $20—which he did!
Altogether, they raised a total of $1,040, and then sat down to write personal letters to the people of Japan. Comments included:
“We are all worried about you and hope you are able to survive this catastrophe.”
“We felt that you could use some help, not just materially but also emotionally.”
“You and all of Japan will get through it with your heads held high and the knowledge that humans look after and care for one another no matter race nor beliefs.”
Field wrote that the scouts were “honored to stand with [The Salvation Army], even if only in a small way, and offer the enclosed financial support.” While the monetary gift will be helpful in the recovery phase of the disaster, the letters are priceless in their message of hope and encouragement to the people of Japan.
Thank you Troop 754 of the Boy Scouts of America!
