Community Corner
Medfield BS Troop 89 Christmas Tree Collection
Medfield Boy Scout Troop 89 marked its 26th annual Christmas tree collection fundraiser as a success and breaks record.
Medfield Boy Scout Troop 89 Breaks Record with Christmas Tree Collection Fundraiser
Medfield Boy Scout Troop 89 marked its 26th annual Christmas tree collection fundraiser as a success. The scouts offer to take Christmas trees and other greens of Medfield residents to the transfer station in exchange for a small donation. This service is the only fundraiser for Troop 89, and it helps fund many troop activities for the year.
“One of the reasons we like this fundraiser is because it aligns nicely with the scouting ethos of community service. Last year, in 2021, we picked up 630 trees, which was a record for us,” said Scoutmaster Hatch. “This year, despite the weather and continuing covid hurdles, we exceeded expectations by collecting over 700 trees. We are so incredibly grateful to the Town of Medfield and its residents for their ongoing support of this service.”
This year Troop 89 added an online sign-up and payment options, making it easy for residents to sign up. Three hundred and ninety- six residents signed up online. Parent volunteers, Jose and Gigi Lozano and Tim and Kimberly Gargano, take the sign-ups, create routes based on location and assign those to teams of scouts and their adults. Scout teams consist of truck and trailer drivers, navigators, and lifters.
On collection days, the scouts meet early and review safety measures like wearing high visibility vests and only exiting and entering vehicles from the passenger side. Due to Covid concerns, troop members wore masks and did not share cars with non-household members. Each scout had an adult household member drive them. It truly is a team effort.
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“I’m proud of our scouts and all the volunteers who come together to make this fundraiser a success year after year,” said Scoutmaster Hatch. “There are always lots of factors out of our control like weather, last-minute sign-ups or cancellations, missing trees, but our scouts are resourceful and roll with whatever comes, and they have fun too.”
Medfield Troop 89 is a Mayflower Scouts BSA Council member chartered to the American Legion. Service, community engagement, and leadership development are integral parts of the Scouts BSA program. If you know a youth between the ages of 11 and 18, who may be interested in joining scouting, please have them contact Scoutmaster Hatch at jameshatch1998@gmail.com.
