Soldiers and children entangled in countries at war are a little happier this year thanks to the efforts of local scouts.
Ortonville Scout Troop 139 and Cub Scout Pack 531 received an Army certificate of appreciation recently after packing soldiers boxes for shipment to troops stationed in Iraq.
Iraq-based ‘Task Force Diamond? recognized the local scouts who began the tradition of sending the boxes out each Christmas season about three years ago, said Jeff Hanft, a Hadley Township resident, assistant scout master for Troop 139 and cubmaster for Pack 531.
‘The soldiers are finding ways to make it easy on the children they encounter,? added Hanft, who has served in scouting for more than seven years.
‘We learned that even when our soldiers are out in the field they have the opportunity to provide toys and items such as soccer balls to children. Many soldiers asked for help with children’s toys.?
Captain Bruce Balvin, stationed at Camp Adder near the town of Al Batha in Iraq had received soldier boxes from Troop 139 just after Christmas and is now requesting toys for humanitarian missions in Iraq (Operation Flat Stanley after the Flat Stanleys the students send him). Cub Pack 531 came through with 53 boxes of toys, along with usual soldier box items. The boxes were sent out to 12 different addresses to soldiers in Iraq.
In addition, boxes with a variety of toys arrived in Afghanistan and Colombia after requesting items for a girl’s orphanage (among other items they also received some much appreciated dolls and stuffed animals from the scouts).
The Cubs also wrote thank-you letters to the soldiers.
‘This is an easy and rewarding opportunity that we have to help our troops overseas,? said Hanft. ‘The only real difficult part is the two hours or so at the post office mailing the boxes; but it’s kind of worth it when you see the clerk’s face when you start hauling in 53 soldier boxes.? The cost to mail the boxes was more than $500, funded by the scouts, he added.
Details to help: email jlhanft@yahoo.com.