Scouts Help Open Arms Mission

The 9th Welland Scout Troop present a cheque of over $3500 to Open Arms Mission Represenative, Tim Albrecht.

The 9^th Welland Scout Group burst into cheers last Wednesday when Tim Albrecht told them how much food they had collected on their recent food drive initiative.

“There was a whole back end of a truck, plus a whole back end of a van,” he told almost 40 excited youth. “You did a very good job collecting and we appreciate that.”

Scouting groups (including members from Beavers up to Rovers) participated in a good turn food drive a few weeks ago outside several Welland grocery stores. They were collecting food and money donations for the Open Arms Mission.

Albrecht, Open Arms pastoral care advisor, met with the Scouts to let them know how much their efforts were appreciated.

“The food goes out to people who come into our mission,” he explained to them. “They need food. There are kids like you and their families are without food. This food will feed them, so it’s great to be able to give it out to people that need it. Thanks for all the time you’ve put into this.”

And, along with the food, Scouters were able to present Albrecht with a donation for the Open Arms in the amount of $3573.58.

“
It is a very large amount and we appreciate that,” Albrecht says. “ The money will go towards our general operations, operational budget and help with food that we need to purchase. It has come at a good time. We have to replace our food collected during the November drive food…we’re coming near to the end of that.”

Albrecht says the Scouts set “a great example” and collecting for the food drive would also be a learning lesson for them.

“It’s a good opportunity for the kids to find out what the needs are in the community and this provided excellent help for every child that comes in (to Open Arms Mission) or is represented by their parents coming into the food banks.”

Albrecht says Open Arms “appreciates every little thing that comes in and this was a great help to us. We need the food.”

And Scout Commissioner, Kevin White , says the 9^th Welland group will be always be there to help and is already looking towards future food drive initiatives.

“We’re going to do it again next year,” he told the cheering Scouts.

Published in Niagara This Week (April 2011)