Small Decorations Go a Long Way for Cub Scouts

Many people have fond memories of walking among rows and rows of freshly cut Christmas trees, with the smells of pine wafting through the air, picking out their favorite and taking it home to decorate it.

But for some families, those memories are not a reality. They are just a dream, because financial circumstances prevent them from purchasing a tree for the holidays.

The members of Cub Scout Pack 731 in North Reading try to do something about that. For the past 15 years, scouts have handcrafted decorations and donated fully adorned trees to local families in need. On Friday night, more than 20 Cub Scouts gathered at to make decorations and hang them on two 5-foot-tall trees.

The donated trees allow a pair of local families to avoid having to make the choice to not buy a Christmas tree because they have other bills to pay or finances to attend to, said Pack 731 cubmaster Gail Tenney. The activity is a fun way to teach the children about giving back to the community, said Tenney, who has been with the pack eight years.

"Because so many people do food baskets around the holidays, we decorate trees," Tenney said. "It's great because they have fun doing it."

The pack purchased the two trees from Boy Scouts in Wilmington, Tenney said. Then, each den, which has boys who range in age from first grade through fifth grade, came up with a different decoration to make.

When they finished their decorations, the scouts walked up to a tree and hung them on the branches. Decorations ranged from the simple—candy canes and glittering bulbs—to the elaborate—shooting stars and chains of garland.

Before heading back to their table to get back to work, many couldn't resist grabbing a holiday cookie or two.

The scouts try to do some type of community service every other month, Tenney said. In April and October, they typically work at the North Reading Food Pantry, she said.

Sam Barrette, a fifth-grade member of the Webelos II den, realized that small decorations could go a long way.

"You have the feeling of helping someone that's in need," Barrette said. "You are going to really make someone's day by giving someone a Christmas tree."

And, at least for a few days, they will be able to smell the scents of freshly cut pine wafting through the air and enjoy the trees, festively decorated for the season.