Concord’s Scout Troop 132 worked to complete a year of service despite the COVID-19 shutdown.

Published in The Concord Weekly March 26, 2021
Reprised in The Spirit of Adventure Council (BSA) Newsletter April 30, 2021

Concord’s Scout Troop 132 worked to complete a year of service despite the COVID-19 shutdown. The troop, under the leadership of Scoutmaster William Duggan and cadre of adult volunteers, responded to the needs they saw in the community. They worked to implement annual activities like the Christmas Tree pickup, as well as new need activities like making masks for health care workers. Most of these projects also supported other local social service organizations.
It began last spring, when Troop 132 partnered with Open Table on a food drive. The scouts, neighbors and friends collected and donated 1,344 pounds of food to Open Table to improve food security in our area.

Next, the troop put together and donated over 1,300 face shields to Shields of Hope for front line workers and worked with Coats for Kids and Anton Cleaners to collect and donate nearly 30 coats. 
Even in this unusual year, the troop managed to lead two annual events in partnership with Holy Family Parish in Concord: The Annual Turkey Truck ahead of Thanksgiving and the Annual Christmas Tree Pickup in January.

At the Annual Turkey Truck, the scouts collected and delivered over 330 turkeys for donation to Crossroads Family Center in Boston and nearly $3,000 in additional financial support was raised and donated to other local food programs. At the Annual Christmas Tree Pickup, Troop 132 Scouts and members of the Parish’s Youth Ministries managed to follow Department of Health protocols and still collect well over 750 trees in one day, making it the most successful Christmas Tree Pickup ever. Working with the town of Concord Compost Center, the trees collected have now been converted to mulch, which will feed gardens around town.
Troop 132 led other service projects this year and also managed to do other scouting activities including hiking, orienteering, cooking but it was these projects that connected the Troop to the greater Concord community.

“Scouts should be friendly, be cheerful, be helpful,” said Duggan. “Remember, there is always an opportunity to do a good turn.”