Cub Scouts from Carson to perform community service

Cub Scouts swear an oath when they become active members of a pack that includes helping others at all times.

Cub Scout Packs 16 and 837 in Carson City, which represent St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Community and Bordewich-Bray Elementary School, respectively, will perform a community service Saturday at the Ronald McDonald House in Reno.

The nine scouts, all 7 years old, will help dismantle the house's Christmas decorations.

"We only have a few in Pack 16, so we've joined forces with Pack 837 to do this for the Ronald McDonald House," said Cindy Johnston, who is with Pack 16. "The parents are going, too. It's something the kids can do that is not high risk."

Johnston said it was the suggestion of scout Lucas Cassity, through his mom, Sharon, they help at the Ronald McDonald House.

"We asked the boys, by a show of hands, who wanted to do it and they all raised their hands," Johnston said.

Another service the packs have as an ongoing project is collecting non-perishable food items for Food for Thought.

"On the same day, they collected cans for FISH in the morning, dropped them off, then the packs took food collected from area elementary schools and delivered them to Food for Thought," Johnston said.

The scouts perform community services under the citizenship category.

"We want the community to know the Cub Scouts are here, so are the Boy Scouts, you just don't see them much. But they're still here and doing good things."

Johnston hopes the public awareness of the scouts' community service projects will pique the interest of other young boys and their family to look into the scouting programs.

"It takes parent commitment, also, to do this," Johnston said. "It builds family values. We want our young boys, our future, to give to the community. The boys know how blessed they are and they enjoy helping others.

"Doing a kind deed makes their hearts feel good. We (parents and boys) grow together through this."

For information on scouting or the local packs, visit www.ccnvcubscouts.com or call Johnston at 883-1215.

- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.