Humbling Experience

[Ranman328 40]

After almost 10 years in Cub Scouts, I recently turned in my resignation as the Cubmaster of our Pack. I could no longer deal with the adult leader drama and people in it for the "Bling". I thought I had lost the spark of teaching the boys something. Along with our COR I scheduled a "test" service project at a local homeless shelter. We had our Webelos and families prepare a meal for 30 "working poor". We would make the meal and serve them at their shelter as well as prepare bag lunches for them for the next day. Tonight was the night we did it. I was very nervous as several of the boys are challenging to say the least. We arrived and everyone including the scouts jumped right in and got to work. The scouts formed an assembly line and had 25 bag lunches that included a drink, fruit, chip bag, sandwich(which they made), rice crispy treat and nutrigrain bar completed in less than 15 minutes. Next they helped get the meal line prepared. People arrived and the scouts served them and we're happy to do it. I couldn't have been more proud. Several families with children came in and the scouts that were in between shifts sat with them and talked to the kids. As people were leaving a couple families came up and asked who the leader was of these boys. I came forward thinking "oh great what happened, was one of the boys rude". They wanted to say thank you and tell me what great Boys they were. The night before a Boy Scout troop helped out and they all stayed in the kitchen. They enjoyed our boys serving the meal and talking to their children. One single mother thanked our boys for talking to her two sons as they don't have any friends due to their situation. It was all I could do not to cry. This is the same family of one of the boys that told one of our scouts that he was excited as the next day they were getting blankets. I couldn't feel more blessed for everything I have to include the scouts of my Pack. Maybe all my speeches about treating people with kindness and respect has not fallen on deaf ears. Tonight was probably the most gratifying event in my scouting experience. No scout went home earning any "bling" but I think we all are more thankful for what we have. In the end, all the petty BS I have dealt with the past year pales in comparison to what these people deal with every day. I look forward to the next time I can help out at this facility.

[Hedgehog 334]

Thanks for making a difference in the lives of the boys: 

 

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy.â€

 

Ever wonder where that came from?  

 

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/12/11/forest-witcraft-quote-first-appeared-scouting-magazine/

[qwazse 4350]

FYI, @@Ranman328, this is what we scouters call "the paycheck!"

 

I hope you keep cashing in even though your taking that CM patch off of your sleeve.

[mashmaster 783]

Awesome, I am sure you positively affected many boys over your time as their leader.

[TAHAWK 1420]

Something to remember when having to endure.

[SSScout 1616]

"The purpose of life is the planting of trees in whose shade one does not expect to sit". 

 

Ya done good, Ranman.