Hurricane Katrina relief drive

Mr. Rankin writes (September 1):

I would like for the Troop to collect the items listed below and bring to the Troop meeting Sept. 12th. In addition to the guidelines listed below, wearing your scout uniform and having adults leadership when you collect - I would like you to proceed to collect the items in your own neighborhood by doing the following:

1.) Copy the list of items below onto a flyer in the following format:

Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive

Boy Scout Troop 828

If you could donate any of the following items, Scouts from Boy Scout 828 will be coming by your house this ________ (put in a day and approximate time that you will come back by the house) to collect them. These items will be delivered to a local Food Bank for distribution to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Thanking you in advance - the Scouts of Troop 828.

Items needed:

· Paper goods such as plates, cups, diapers and tissue
· Cleaning supplies such as bleach, Top Job, Mr. Clean
· Bottled Water (no glass containers)
· Single serving snacks such as Pop Tarts, cereal bars
· Peanut Butter
· Heat and eat foods such as chili, stew, canned pasta with sauce, and canned vegetables
· Any other single serving foods that do not require refrigeration
· MRE’s (meals ready to eat)
· Baby formula
· Personal hygiene products

2.) Make enough of these copies to cover the street you live on. If you can, do 3 streets.

3.) Post them on the front door of the house this weekend. The sooner you do this the better - as several organizations will be collecting items over the next several weeks.

4.) Collect your items and bring to the Sept. 12 Troop meeting

- We will then take the items to a local food pantry as the notice below instructs. Again you must follow the guidelines listed below when you collect.

In addition, I would like for the troop to collect clothing at the Sept. 19th Troop meeting. Bring new or used items in good condition to the Sept. 19th Troop meeting. These items can be from your own household. Scouts - many people have lost all they have and are in need of things that you and I take for granted. Do you part to help those in need.

If you care to help out in the other ways listed below in the notice, please feel free to do so.

YIS - Mr. Rankin Scoutmaster T-828

Email from Ken Edgerton
Council Commissioner
Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America

“A Scout Is Helpful”
“On my Honor I promise….To help other people at all times”

As Council Commissioner for the Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America, I encourage you to participate in the following effort.

Hurricane Katrina has caused unimaginable damage and tens of thousands of refugees are arriving daily to our area. Most of them have lost everything and are in dire need of assistance. Food is needed immediately as food pantries are normally low on supplies this time of year. A sustained food supply will be needed in the weeks to come so local food pantries can continue to distribute help.

The Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America has agreed to participate in a coordinated effort with other United Way Agencies as well as local, state and federal government offices. This is to meet the needs of incoming refugees.

To aid the relief efforts we are asking each Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Team, Venturing Crew, Sea Scout Ship, and Explorer Post to immediately mobilize their scouts to collect much needed items for our local food banks and food pantries.

If you are a leader of a Scouting unit we ask that you do the following if possible:

1. Within the next two weeks, organize your scouts, in uniform if possible, to collect food from their neighborhood. Please keep in mind that Scouts should always have adult leadership in any door-to-door effort. Needed items are:

· Paper goods such as plates, cups, diapers and tissue
· Cleaning supplies such as bleach, Top Job, Mr. Clean
· Bottled Water (no glass containers)
· Single serving snacks such as Pop Tarts, cereal bars
· Peanut Butter
· Heat and eat foods such as chili, stew, canned pasta with sauce, and canned vegetables
· Any other single serving foods that do not require refrigeration
· MRE’s (meals ready to eat)
· Baby formula
· Personal hygiene products

2. Locate your local food pantry through the phone book, local churches or the Houston Food Bank (http://www.houstonfoodbank.org) and deliver the food directly to the local pantries.

Please note: Local Boy Scout facilities (Cockrell Scout Center, Camp Strake, Scout Shops, etc.) are not equipped to handle and distribute food. Please do not take food to those facilities as it will delay the distribution to those in need.

3. Go to the following link and fill out the online form telling the Council that your unit is participating. View this link for the online form.

4. Do not accept cash donations but rather refer anyone wanting to give a cash donation to the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast at www.uwtgc.org or by calling 211.

Additionally, KPRC Television Local 2, along with HEB Food Stores and the Houston Food Bank, is conducting an emergency food drive tomorrow (Friday, September 2, 2005) and if your Scouting unit can organize quickly enough to participate, please do. Locations for Friday drop off of food are:

· KPRC Local 2 Studios, 8181 Southwest Freeway near Gessner
· Riverpark HEB Food Store, 19900 Highway 59
· Gulfgate HEB Food Store, 3111 Woodridge
· Fountainview HEB Food Store, 2660 Fountainview
· Woodlands Market HEB Food Store, 9595 Six Pines Drive
· Mason HEB Food Store, 1621 Mason Road

If you are not associated with a Scouting unit and have received this email you are encouraged to participate in the same manner as our scouts.

If you, or someone you know needs immediate disaster relief, or for more information about relief efforts, call 211 for help.

Thank you in advance for your help in this critical time. The Boy Scouts of America truly is making a difference!

Ken Edgerton
Council Commissioner
Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America