Frankfort Square Cub Scout Pack 237 Toy Drive Benefits Kids

The Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation was recently awarded toys and gifts thanks to the work of Frankfort Square Cub Scout Pack 237. The Scouts organized, implemented and coordinated a toy drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. 15 Scouts, along with their parents, collected the toys and gifts which will directly benefit children and teens fighting cancer.

In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America created a new opportunity called Cub Scouting for boys younger than Boy Scout age. A Cub Scout unit is a referred to as a "pack", and consists of several "dens", with the boys grouped by age or grade in school. Cub Scouting is a family program for boys who are in the first through fifth grades. The 1st grade boys are "Tigers", 2nd grade "Wolves", 3rd graders "Bears", and 4th and 5th graders "Webelos.” Toy delivery driver and Scout mom Julie Garrity said, “The boys decided to bring joy to kids who are going through a rough time.”

Treasure Chest Foundation CEO and Founder Colleen Kisel is thankful to Frankfort Square Boy Scout Troop 237. “It’s amazing how a small group of boys can make such an enormous difference,” said a thankful and appreciative Colleen. “The donation will directly benefit children and teens who endure years and years of unending cancer treatments by rewarding the little ones with a toy, gift or gift card after every procedure.”

The POTCF is a unique organization whose services impact more than 13,300 young cancer patients enduring 20,000 clinic visits each month in 19 states across the nation. Nowhere else in the nation does such a program exist. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain, noting that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures. Martin celebrated his 25th anniversary of remission from the disease earlier this year.

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation’s web site at www.treasurechest.org.

Pictured: Frankfort Square Cub Scout Pack 237 toy delivery team, scout member M.J. Garrity, mom Julie Garrity and scout member Devin Garrity among the donation of toys at the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation’s Orland Park facility.