Raritan Valley District Awards Breakfast

Hi Everyone,

Congratulations to our Raritan Valley winners of the Community Service Award for 2019

Pack 96     310 hours/ 6.20 hours per Scout

Troop 12    1345 hours

Troop 41    30.78 hours per Scout

JTE:

For 2019 Raritan Valley has achieved Silver for Community Service.  We had a record high of 47 Units reporting their service .  Each year we need to increase service hours by 2% or reach a goal of 8.0 hour per Scout to achieve Gold.  In 2018 we had 18,289 hours/5.99 hours per scout and 44 units reporting. For 2019 we had 17,255 hours/5.85 hours per Scout.    

I know that we can achieve Gold for 2020. Don’t forget to log your service hours.  If you need help logging hours or your Unit ID please reach out to me. 

                              https://servicehours.scouting.org/UI/Security/Login.aspx

Klondike Donations:

Thank you to all that donated to our first winter clothing drive at this year’s Klondike.    We collected 543 items that were donated to SHIP-Somerville & the VA Hospital-Lyons.   They were very appreciative and couldn’t believe how many items we donated.   Special thanks to Dave Robbins for adding this collection & promoting it so well.  

SHIP Food drive: March Roundtable

SHIP is looking for the following items:    individual cups of applesauce/fruit,  pull top cans of meat & meals and Cup of soup.   If your unit can collect these items over the next couple weeks, please bring the items to the March Roundtable.  I will wait outside at the beginning of the meeting to collect the items at my car so you can just pull up to the entrance to drop off . 

Blood Drive with RWJ-Somerset

On Tuesday, May 12 from 4-8 pm we will be co- hosting a Blood drive.   We will need Scouts to help with directing people and helping with refreshments.    As we get closer I will send out a sign up link so Scouts can pick a time to help.    If you are interested in donating and can’t make 5/12, you can still donate and have it count towards our district.   

Community Service Chairperson/ ASPL-Community Service:

As a council we are looking to have each unit to have someone be a Community Service Chairperson or an ASPL-Community service.  This person would be responsible for organizing service events as well as reporting the hours.    Please let me know if you have a Chairperson or ASPL so I can communicate with them when service opportunities arise.   If you have someone interested but they would like more information, please have them reach out to me.  

Serv Awards:

A great way to show appreciation to your Scouts who perform service.   There are three levels ( bronze, silver and Gold)available.   The pins are available at the Scout shop.  

https://ppcbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/SERV-Award-Tracking-Form-2019.pdf

Scouting for Food:

SFF can occur at any time during the year.   We are out of bags but you can still do a collection by distributing flyers and then collecting the bags.  If you need help to find a place to donate the food please reach out to me.  We can make a huge difference in people’s lives.  Here’s an example of units working together and how much food they donated.   Troop 309- 211 bags, Troop 125- 131 bags, Troop 124-100 bags, Troop 207-110 bags, Pack 224-126 bags, Pack 207-218 bags & Pack 324 -224 bags, for a grand total of 1,120 bags

 Pictures & Projects

If you take pictures during service events please email them to me so we can post them on Facebook and at various events during the year.   If you have a project that you’ve done and like to share how it went please contact me.  Let’s inspire each other with our Good Turns.  

Yours In Scouting,

Linda Cummings, Raritan Valley Community Service Chairperson

[email protected]    908-904-4498 home    908-963-6310 cell

Operation Shoebox NJ

If you can make any of the shopping sprees please email me so I can notify Operation Shoebox. Generally they only need 4-6 people per shift.    

 Shifts are    9:30AM to 12:00PM    11:30AM to 2:00PM       1:30PM to 3:30PM   

MARCH  2020

7     Sat    Flemington     Stop n Shop       334 State Route 31         08822

8     Sun   Flemington     Stop n Shop       334 State Route 31         08822

28   Sat    Flemington     Stop n Shop       334 State Route 31         08822

29   Sun   Flemington     Stop n Shop       334 State Route 31         08822

APRIL  2020

4     Sat    Piscataway    Stop n Shop        581 Stelton Rd                08854

5     Sun   Piscataway    Stop n Shop        581 Stelton Rd                08854

11   Sat    Somerville     Shop Rite            1 South Davenport St      08876 

25   Sat    Branchburg   Shop Rite            3166 Route 22                 08876

26   Sun   Branchburg   Shop Rite            3166 Route 22                 08876 

SHIP- Samirtan Homeless Intervention Program    Somerville, NJ

Please reach out to Mr. O’Leary if you are interested in one of the service ideas listed below. 

Service (1):                    Food: Collect individual portion pop-up & pull-top cans of meats, meals,

                                        etc. (for drop-in clients) OR Collect cans of Beef-a-Roni, beans, etc. for

                                        the soup kitchen ((2) #10 size or 18 small per meal) OR Make a casserole

                                       with your troop. Nothing fancy – mac n’ cheese, franks and beans, sliced

                                      ham is fine or whatever your specialty. SHIP requests that we supply (2)

                                       1/2 tray sizes of the same meal as opposed to one full (turkey sized) aluminum tray size.

Service (2):     Hygiene: Make up individual small hygiene bags (3-day supply) with a

                                       toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, etc.

Service (3):     Decorations: Make placemats, table decorations, and seasonal decorations:

                                        SHIP’s Holiday Meals – Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Easter

                                        Sunday.

Service (4):     Clothing: Collect winter gloves, new socks & underwear (adult men’s

                                        sizes) OR run adult coat drive. (While SHIP does not have the facilities for

                                        large scale sorting of used clothing, winter coats are much needed this

                                        time of year, especially adult men’s sizes.)

Service (5):     Participate in SHIP’s holiday meals, Help serve meals & other duties (held

                                        on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas).

Service (6):     Run a Holiday Toy Drive

Service (7):     Assist with SHIP’s Annual Night of Celebration (set up and other chores)

each year, date TBD.

Service (8):     Help with Client’s Christmas party in December – will be a children only

                                        party with face painting, games, toys, treats (make cookies, cupcakes,

                                        other Christmas treats), etc. for approx. 200 children on a Saturday.

Service (9):    Help with mobile soup kitchen (must be 16 ½ years old.)

Service (10):   Help with summer picnics  (typically June & July).

Service (11):   Make sandwiches (60) in brown bags, labeled appropriately: Ham &

                                        Cheese (HC), Bologna (B) Tuna (TF) Turkey (TF) American Cheese (C)

                                        Peanut Butter & Jelly (PJ). Also include: one piece of fruit, juice box,

                                        snack (chips, cookies etc.) and napkin per bag. NO MUSTARD or

                                        DRESSING.

Contact:          Tom O’Leary, Director          Number:          908-725-3025

Address:          87 East High Street, Somerville, NJ 

Email Contact @:      [email protected]

Click Here to Register for Cub Leader Position Specific Training

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REGISTER FOR ALL TRAININGS

For trainings see the Council Calendar

Upcoming

November TBD 2020 –  Philmont Alumni Brunch
Program Highlights:
• Guest Speaker
• Recognition of the 2020 Philmont Leadership
• Presentation of the David Setzer Philmont Alumnus Award
Attendees: All Alumni, Family & Friends. Dress: Casual. Fee: TBD

RV District Recognition Breakfast Photos – June 1, 2019

Spring Cub Family Camping – June 8-10, 2018

Raritan Valley District Recognition Breakfast Photos – June 2, 2018

Raritan Valley District Recognition Breakfast Photos – May 13, 2017