By Holly Roeder
Staff Writer
Local scouts armed with rakes and leaf blowers set upon North Ave. Saturday morning, spreading some of Henderson’s first vestiges of holiday cheer. In addition to a few North Ave. yards, Scout Pack 25 also raked leaves at the courthouse. This act of good will known as “Rake n’ Run” teaches and encourages scouts “to do a good turn daily,” according to Cub Scout Pack 25/Boy Scout Troop 25 Committee Chairman and Shiloh District Commissioner Misty Croom.
Rake n’ Run is an annual event for Pack 25, and this year boasted 30 participants including scouts, parents and siblings. Croom said that while some yards were chosen randomly, some addresses were suggested by others. “The kids are learning to give back to the community and help others,” she said. “Fun fact is, most of the kids just think its fun to rake n’ run because the person whose house we are raking usually doesn’t even come outside. The kids get excited thinking about how happy the resident will be when they see it.”
Scout Eli Hearn eagerly said “They are going to be so excited to see what a good job we did. But they won’t know it was us,” he snickered, “because we won’t be here!”
In addition to the leaf work, scouts left door hangers throughout the community, explaining the upcoming food drive, “Scouting for Food.” According to Croom, scouts will be looking for canned items such as soup, beef stew, chili, meats, vegetables, fruit, pasta and dry goods. They ask that donations consist of non-perishable items with no frozen or glass goods. For those who received a door hanger and choose to participate, bagged food donations should be placed at your driveway entrance by 9 a.m. Saturday morning, Nov. 16. Scouts will return to collect the items by noon. If you did not receive a door hanger but would like to participate, email cubscoutpk25@gmail.com or call 234-5986 to schedule a pick up time. Items collected during the Scouting for Food drive will be donated to Gleaner’s.
“I’m extremely proud of all of them and their hard work and the commitment from their parents,” Croom continued. “The parents make sure they instill values and live by the scout oath and law.”
