Arlington Troop 306 expresses joy after assembling gift bags. / Photo by Karin Turer
More than 30 scouts from Arlington’s Troop 306 gathered recently to assemble gift bags full of goodies for teens — items donated by local residents.
Because of that generosity, the troop filled more than 260 bags — more than in any previous year.
And that means that every teen on a list from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families will receive a gift bag.
This was the 10th year that the Arlington troop has run “Troop 306 for Teens” in collaboration with the Arlington office of the DCF.
In previous years, the troop has provided gifts to roughly 150 teens annually; amounting to more than 1,000 teens total since the inception of the drive, according to information from troop leaders.
Teens “will feel seen”
The donations in the gift bags include all sorts of popular and useful teen items such as journals, earbuds, fun pens, card games, mini-speakers — and warm hats and gloves.
“Thanks to the support of the community and the hard work of our scouts, teens in need will feel seen this holiday season,” said troop co-leader Ben Amidon in a Dec. 20 news release.
To amass the gift items, the troop had advertised with fliers, placed collection bins in local business and schools, and collected the donations from mid-November through mid-December. Then the troop worked together on one festive evening to create wonderful gift bags for their peers, Amidon said.
Thanks to many
The troop thanks the people of Arlington for their giving spirit and also thanks the collection sites:
- Arlington Assembly Sports Club (29 Mass. Ave.)
- Arlington Police Department (112 Mystic St.)
- Bishop Elementary School
- Dallin Elementary School
- First Parish Unitarian Universalist (630 Mass. Ave.)
- Hardy Elementary School
- Leader Bank, East Arlington branch (141 Mass. Ave.)
- Leader Bank, Heights branch (1201 Mass. Ave.)
- LivFit (471 Mass. Ave.)
- The Roasted Granola (1346 Mass. Ave.)
- Stratton Elementary School
- True Fitness (30 Park Ave.)
The holiday gift drive may be done for this year, but the generosity showed in Arlington will be a bright light for the teens receiving the bags well into the new year, the troop believes.
About Troop 306
Troop 306 in Arlington includes all genders. It has an emphasis on outdoor adventure, leadership training and skills building. The troop also takes part in monthly community-service activities in addition to working on individual service projects.
The troop has been active for more than 100 years, having started in 1917. The First Baptist Church of Arlington is its sponsor.
For further information, contact T306arlington@gmail.com.
Nov. 21, 2022: See a large photo published earlier >>
This news announcement was published Monday, Nov. 21, 2022, based on information provided by Karin Turer of Arlington. It was updated to a news story Dec. 20, 2022, based on information from troop co-leader Ben Amidon.
