Scouts make donation to Shriner's

Date: 6/8/2009

By Natasha Clark

Assistant Managing Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW Boy Scout Den 7 of Pack 272, affiliated with St. Michael's Parish, recently teamed up with the East Longmeadow Lions Club to make a donation to Shriner's Children's Hospital. As a part of their community service project the scouts donated $50 to the hospital that is one of five facing closure in the organization.

Cub Master Dave Parkinson represented the scouts at a Lions Club meeting recently hosted at Elmcrest Country Club, where Shriner's clowns, scouts and Lions members gathered to present the funds.

"I think this is exciting," Parkinson said, adding that teaching children about the community is important and that as a Cub Master and a father he is happy to assist them. "What they're doing tonight is exactly what the Cub Scouts is designed to do."

Den Leader Mark Callahan said the Boy Scouts builds character and community service. All level of scouts were on hand that evening, and later Callahan joked, "Look around the room. We have lions, tigers, bears and clowns."

Michael C. Kagan, who was present at the event as Binder the Clown, told the audience that he and the other clown present "represent the children at Shriner's and 22 hospitals including Canada and Mexico. [The organization] is talking about closing five hospitals and we don't know what will happen until July."

The Lions Club also made a separate donation of $150.