Rancho Santa Margarita residents Hailey Davis, Sydney Schelin,
Drew Moore, Brittany Boud, and Vanessa Ratunuman pause for a
picture with two veterans eating lunch after opening their presents
Picture taken by Annette Jones
Who: Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) Cub Scout Pack 727 and the Boy Scout Troop
727 served alongside RSM youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What: Almost 200 presents were delivered by youth to veterans at the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital.
When: December 8th, 2012 10am
Where: Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital
Why: To teach youth to honor the veterans that have served this country by remembering them at Christmas.
Possible Titles
********************
More than just presents
Youth reach out to Vets at Christmas
Teaching youth to honor the Veteran’s
Retired Navy Vet organizes youth to visit Vets at Christmas Christmas service activity for the whole family Youth’s favorite activity of the year
Youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have been participating in the “veteran’s box project” with local scout troops for eight years. Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) Cub Scout Pack 727 and the Boy Scout Troop 727 served alongside LDS youth to deliver the boxes to Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Robin Gray, a local scout leader, said, “Jim Clements, a RSM resident and retired Navy Veteran, started the project while his son was a young Cub Scout, with the purpose of teaching youngsters to honor our American heroes who have given so much to protect our country and way of life.”
In November the church project starts with asking the LDS congregation to purchase small gifts to fill a shoebox for patients at The Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Kathleen Tobler, LDS Santa Margarita Stake Director of Community Relations, says, “Little things that they seem to appreciate are socks, puzzle books, decorations, books and even items like toe nail clippers. When you’re in a hospital those little things can make a big difference.” Every gift is put in a shoebox and then the LDS youth put them together in an assembly line fashion and then write cards and wrap each box.
The best part of the project is always the day of the delivery. “Many of the youth say this is their favorite activity of the year,” explains Elise Butler, RSM resident and LDS youth leader. On December 8th the scout troops and about 100 church members gathered to delivery the presents to the veteran’s in the Hospice Ward and Spinal Cord Ward.
Alana Davis, summarizes the experience, “One veteran named Roger did not speak well but as the youth sang a Christmas carol to him he started to sob.
He just kept saying over and over again “Thank you! You’ve changed my life.
There is just something so special about you as I look into your faces, Thank you!”
********************
Pictures
http://www.karenlake.com/press/veteran.box/
1. Part of the LDS youth group pause for a picture at the Long Beach
Veteran’s Hospital. Picture taken by Alana Davis
2. Almost 200 wrapped presents are stacked on rollers to take to the
Hospice Ward and Spinal Cord Ward at Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Picture taken by Alana Davis.
3. Rancho Santa Margarita residents Hailey Davis, Sydney Schelin, Drew
Moore, Brittany Boud, and Vanessa Ratunuman pause for a picture with two veterans eating lunch after opening their presents. Picture taken by Annette Jones.
4. Rancho Santa Margarita residents Amanda Westover, Annalyn Jones, a
local nurse, Rachel Dapper, and Nikki Wallace take their presents to patients on the 4th floor of the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Picture taken by Annette Jones.
5. LDS youth Abby Allen and Miranda Tate from Rancho Santa Margarita
wait in the lobby to visit patients at the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital.
Picture taken by Alana Davis.
6. Julia Dapper, Rachel Dapper, Annalyn Jones, and Nikki Wallace pause
while delivering Christmas carols and presents to patients at the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Picture taken by Annette Jones.
Youth from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) have been participating in the “veteran’s box project” with local scout troops for eight years.
Rancho Santa Margarita (RSM) Cub Scout Pack 727 and the Boy Scout Troop 727 served alongside LDS youth to deliver the boxes to Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital.
Almost 200 wrapped presents are stacked on rollers to take to the Hospice
Ward and Spinal Cord Ward at Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital
Picture taken by Alana Davis
Robin Gray, a local scout leader, said, “Jim Clements, a RSM resident and retired Navy Veteran, started the project while his son was a young Cub Scout, with the purpose of teaching youngsters to honor our American heroes who have given so much to protect our country and way of life.”
In November the church project starts with asking the LDS congregation to purchase small gifts to fill a shoebox for patients at The Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. Kathleen Tobler, LDS Santa Margarita Stake Director of Community Relations, says, “Little things that they seem to appreciate are socks, puzzle books, decorations, books and even items like toe nail clippers. When you’re in a hospital those little things can make a big difference.” Every gift is put in a shoebox and then the LDS youth put them together in an assembly line fashion and then write cards and wrap each box.
Part of the LDS youth group pause for a picture at the Long Beach
Veteran’s Hospital
Picture taken by Alana Davis
The best part of the project is always the day of the delivery. “Many of the youth say this is their favorite activity of the year,” explains Elise Butler, RSM resident and LDS youth leader.
On December 8th the scout troops and about 100 church members gathered to delivery the presents to the veteran’s in the Hospice Ward and Spinal Cord Ward.
Alana Davis, summarizes the experience, “One veteran named Roger did not speak well but as the youth sang a Christmas carol to him he started to sob.He just kept saying over and over again “Thank you! You’ve changed my life.
There is just something so special about you as I look into your faces, Thank you!”
Karen Lake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Media Director: Santa Margarita Stake
http://www.mormons.org
