Naperville Scout Troops Support Our Troops

Written by Lucy Nobrega

Nobody hesitated when Sam Wehrli’s mom asked for donations and packing help for Operation Support our Troops (OSOT), which provides active duty service men and women with basic necessities and a few luxuries. It was not long ago that Sam himself was a Scout in Troop 100; now he’s a Cadet at West Point.

The boys and girls of Scouts BSA Troops 100 and 6100, of Wesley United Methodist Church in Naperville, enthusiastically got packing. In the end, seven decorated boxes and 177 pounds of donations headed out the door to make their way to active duty service men and women serving in harm’s way. The next stop was OSOT’s warehouse in Lisle, where the contents were sorted and repacked by groups of volunteers before being sent overseas.

Lynda Wehrli, Sam’s mom and the driver for the Scouts’ efforts, still keeps in touch with the scout troop even though Sam has moved on. She was thrilled with the donation. “I know that Scouting was instrumental in his leadership development,” says Lynda, “and he has great gratitude for the Troop and the leaders.”

When asked how she felt about the effort, Scout Claire Meyer shared, “I really liked it. It felt good to be giving back to those who protect us every day.”

These donations are part of the Comfort and Care Package Program, one of many ways OSOT provides support to service members who are deployed all over the world, those who have returned home, and those who have fallen.

These particular packages are destined for service persons from our communities serving in Iraq and Turkey. The 25-pound packages are filled with basic needs and comfort items and typically contain goods like SPF lip balm, foot powder, hand sanitizer, eye drops, crackers, and candy.

Sam Wehrli achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest honor, in 2016. He will eventually do his own tours overseas. His experience in Scouting and with Troop 100 led his mother to make this request, knowing the Troop and its linked female Troop would jump at the chance to support our troops.

For more information about OSOT, including how you can help, visit osotamerica.org. If you or someone you know is a deployed service person serving in harm’s way, visit the site to add them to the comfort package mailing list.

About Troops 100 and 6100

Troop 100, first chartered in 1959, is the oldest Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts) troop in Naperville. On February 1, 2019, the Boy Scouts of America welcomed girls into its program for 12-17 year old youth and changed the program’s name from Boy Scouts to Scouts BSA. On this date, Wesley United Methodist Church chartered Troop 6100 for females, linking it to male Troop 100.

About Three Fires Council | Boy Scouts of America

Three Fires Council is headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois, and was formed in 1925. It serves over 12,000 youth throughout Kane, DuPage, Kendall, DeKalb, and parts of Will and Cook Counties. Local communities are divided into 3 volunteer-led districts. Approximately 6,000 adult volunteers serve local youth. Last year, more than 142,000 community service hours were accumulated in Eagle Scout projects and other service opportunities. Three Fires Council also boasts two camps: Camp Big Timber (Elgin, Illinois) and Camp Freeland Leslie (Oxford, Wisconsin).

Website: www.threefirescouncil.org