Cub Scout Pack 499 sent care packages to the troops as part of hero month activities in October. Photos provided

October was about heroes for Cub Scout Pack 499 of Clarkston, so the pack invited some special guests to its pack meeting at Independence Township fire station on Citation Drive.
“We had Sargent Buchman from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department talk to our scouts about heroes, how to be a hero, education of police etc.,” said Christa Ellingsworth, committee chair for Pack 499.
The scouts, ages 7-11, also invited Troops Need Love Too.
“They are an organization based in Drayton Plains that raises awareness and engages the public’s aid for our U.S. Armed Forces deployed to remote bases overseas,” Ellingsworth said. “They send care packages with food, hygiene items and letters from home boosting morale for the soldiers overseas. Our pack, in keeping with the hero theme, thought we could aid this organization.”

The scouts earned money at home through chores and then purchased food items for care packages, with candy, ramen noodles, cereal, drink mix pouches, potato chips, granola bars, etc.
“We made approximately 74 boxes for the soldiers. These boxes are then placed in bigger boxes that are sent overseas and the idea is that when a person receives the bigger box, they offer the smaller box to a soldier who did not receive mail for the day,” she said.
A couple of the soldiers who received packages sent notes thanking the pack for their work.

“Today I received a care package from your pack and wanted to write you and say thanks,” wrote CW2 Jonathan Holland, who is currently deployed to Camp Buehring Kuwait. “As you may or may not know, we tend to receive a lot of care packages from a ton of well wishers. Most of those packages contain a lot of similar items such as ramen or crossword puzzles. I do not typically have time or take the time rather, to write back to anyone but yours was different. The picture of the pack included was what caused me to want to write you. I have two boys at home and seeing your pic, I knew I needed to say thanks. I’m glad your pack has a website! Thanks for caring enough and sending us goodies to eat. We truly appreciate it. Please continue to pray for our mission during this time in our nation’s life.”
“I got a care package today filled to the top with snacks from my little cousins’ Boy Scout Troop in Clarkston,” sent Captain Ronnie Smith, physician assistant at HHT, Second Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment. “Well, it was filled to the top but I already shared some with soldiers at headquarters and the medics here at the aid station. Thanks to Jeffrey and Joshua and the rest of the pack!”