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 Leader Chris Prendiville said, “This is a good time to remember others. The toys bring cheer for all the sick kids.”

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 14,000 young cancer patients in 59 cancer treatment centers in 20 states across the nation and in the District of Columbia. 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 26th anniversary of remission from the disease in March of 2019.

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.