Cub Scout Pack near its DVD drive goal

Move drive nearing an end.

Published: Friday, December 7, 2007 7:15 PM CST

Melissa Cason

Franklin County Times

Russellville's Cub Scout Pack No. 39 has almost reached its goal of 200 DVDs for troops serving over seas.

Cubmaster Elliott Gordon said the pack has collected 121 movies as of Friday and still have hopes for hitting 200.

"The purpose of this project was not only to show support to our men and women fighting in Iraq, but also to teach the boys that the world is bigger than Russellville, Alabama," Elliott said. "No matter how young or old you are, you can make a difference in someone's life."

The Scouts spent time placing thank you notes in each DVD collected by the Pack. The note is signed by every member, both scouts and adults, of Pack No. 39.

Rose Ellen and Pam Rideout from the Scout Shop in Huntsville stopped by the Scout's most recent meeting to talk to the boys about the project and emphasize the importance of these projects. Not just for the boys, but for the soldiers as well.

Rideout's son, John, is currently serving in Iraq. Gordon said the boys were very interested in John's service in Iraq, and Rideout said he has plans to visit Pack No. 39 when he returns home next year.

Drop off locations for the DVDs are at First United Methodist Church in Russellville, Russellville Utilities, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce office.

"We hope that DVDs will continue to be donated so that we can meet our goal of 200," Elliott said.

Valley Cub Scouts collect DVDs for soldiers

Updated: Nov 20, 2007 09:17 AM CST

For the past two weeks Cub Scout Pack 39 has collected DVD donations. Cub Scout leader Elliott Gordon says he came up with idea to help a special friend.

"The ladies in our scout supply office inHuntsville...one of her sons is in Iraq and they put a request in a newsletter for DVDs," said Gordon.

So pack 39 answered the call and began collecting DVDs in Russellville.

'This effort is important to our Cub scouts and important to our soldiers in Iraq so they wont get bored," said Cub Scout, Cameron DeAreman

And this little act of kindness goes a long way.

"We don't want them to feel like they are forgotten over there. We want them to know we're here and counting on them," said Cub Scout, Charlie Gordon.

"It's also important for the boys they learn that we're not just a small community in Northern Alabama," said Elliott Gordon. "Scouting is worldwide."

DVDs will be delivered to the boy scout office in Huntsville before being sent to Iraq.

Local Scouts collect DVDs for troops

DVDs for troops.

Published: Thursday, November 8, 2007 5:18 PM CST

Melissa Cason

Franklin County Times

Cub Scout Pack No. 39 will collect new and used DVDs for troops serving in Iraq as their service project for the holiday season.

"Our supply store in Huntsville is collecting the DVDs for the troops and asked us if we would like to participate in the collection as well," Cub Master Elliott Gordon said.

Collection sites for the DVDs are Russellville Utilities, The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the First United Methodist Church in Russellville.

"Our goal is 200 DVDs for our service men and women," Gordon said.

He added that each DVD will have a label with a Pack 39 sticker and card with each scout's signature inside.

The DVDs can be movies or television shows. There is no preference on which shows or movies to donate.

"We have been told that the troops will watch anything from home," Gordon said. "The main thing is that they are watching something from home."

No deadline for the project has been announced, but there will be a progress meter published on the pack's website, which will be updated weekly.

"We hope to have a soldier who received the movies visit a pack meeting when he or she returns from Iraq," Gordon said.

Pack No. 39 has 70 scout and 13 adult members, serving boys from first to fifth grade. For more information on Pack No. 39, visit www.pack39online.org