Be prepared. It’s a pretty simple statement; one that has been the motto of the Boy Scouts of America for decades. When it comes to being prepared for the holiday season, which is often easier said than done, people will do whatever it takes. With the help of a local self storage company, a Boy Scout troop helped hundreds of people do just that.
Last Saturday, Boy Scout Troop 442 with the help of Paul and Jerry’s Self Storage in Spring Hill, Florida, held a rather unique charity Christmas event. With items donated from various local non-for-profits along with some abandoned items left in self storage units, the troop set up a make-shift store at the self storage facility.
Heading up the project was 12 year old named Joshua Poland. He put the project together in order to help needy families at Christmas. It also serves as the social service project that he is required to do in order to become an Eagle Scout.
He had initially approached his school to get involved, but when they turned him down (claiming they were already involved in enough projects, he went to Tim Reed, one of the owners at Paul and Jerry’s Self Storage for help.
On top of the event at the self storage facility that was dubbed “Give till it’s Gone,” Joshua asked classrooms from surrounding schools to help. He also got help from Padula’s Pizza who provided incentive to the classroom that donated the most. Re/Max helped collect donations and a number of churches and non-for-profits donated toys and things for the home.
"We went out and bought toys with this (money)," Joshua said.
About 500 people in need where able to “shop” for their families for Christmas.
The holiday season is one that finds many people in the giving mood and looking for ways to give back to the community. Self storage companies across the nation can be found collecting toys for a number of different charities, engaging in food drives for local food banks, and collecting coats (along with other clothes) to make sure that those less fortunate don’t feel the bite of a cold, December breeze when they go outside.
Another self storage company, Spencer Brothers Mini Storage, got involved with a local “Meals on Wheels” program in Hopkins County, Kentucky. The owners helped match an $800 donation that a local church had raised through its annual bazaar. Money will be used to help continue feeding elderly citizens in the county.
Sources Used:
“Many folks answer Boy Scout's call to help needy families at Christmastime.” Tampabay.com; 21 December 2011.
“Women’s Group Donates Over $1500 to Local Organization.” SurfKY.com; 21 December 2011.