Boy Scouts affected by theft, receive support from the community.
The Boy Scout Slogan is: "Do a Good Turn Daily". An idea that is deeply rooted in the basic ideals of Scouting's Oath ...to help other people at all times... Saint Paul the Apostle's Boy Scout Troop 728, recent victims of theft are now the recipients of "Good Turns" from the community of which they serve. In response to media reports about the troop's Scout trailers being broken into and their camping gear stolen, there has been an outcry from the community, and offers of support to aid the Boy Scouts of Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, of Richardson. Community support to help deal with the impact of the theft has been immediate to prevent the possible cancellation of an upcoming campout in which the Scouts are to ride and care for horses as required in the Horsemanship Merit Badge. Troop Leaders have been contacted with offers of donations of personal camping gear and pledges of financial support. Scoutmaster, Michael Koenecke states that with the reactivation of some retired tents, some borrowed camping gear, and contributions from the community, the upcoming campout will go ahead as scheduled.
With the donations, the troop hopes to replace all the stolen gear by the end of June, after their annual fundraiser, and before the Troop's summercamp program and their high adventure trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, in northern New Mexico's Rocky Mountains. It has even been mentioned that and donations of camping gear beyond the immediate needs of the Troop will be donated to others Troops in need.
Adult Troop Quartermaster, Stephen Carpenter said: "As soon as the Troop’s basic needs are met, the boys can redirect their focus to their community service projects that are in the works, in the surrounding communities."
For more information on how to assist Troop 728, with contributions and donations, and for further information on their annual fundraiser, their "Hole-In-One ShootOut", Father's Day weekend, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 S. Floyd Road in Richardson, with a $45,000 Prize, visit their Boy Scout Troop 728 website at: www.troop728.net or http://www.troop728.net/
