By Lane Randall
Photo courtesy of John Culpepper
Arrowmen participating in the 2014 Section SR 2-3S Conclave this summer at Texas State University spent the weekend putting their “Arrowmen State of Mind” into action in a variety of ways. One of the most visible activities was through a new community service project that provided more than 700 children’s books and learning supplements for families in Central Texas.
The two-part service project was planned as part of the conclave program. The section leadership worked with Texas State University to identify a partner agency that could benefit from both the generosity and helping hands of the Scouts in attendance. The Hays County United Way’s Born Learning Initiative was selected as the project partner. The Born Learning Initiative provides reading materials and learning supplements to families with young children.
The project chairman, Micah Culpepper, explained that the project consisted of two parts. First, Arrowmen were asked to bring new and gently used children’s books to donate to the Born Learning Initiative. Then, on Saturday morning, a community service action point was set up where Arrowmen could assemble learning supplement packages to accompany the books.
Section Chief Alex Call said the project complemented the theme of the event, Arrowman State of Mind.
"Our partnership with the Hays County United Way really demonstrated the conclave theme in action by showing that Arrowmen can touch the lives of so many through the Scout habits of helpfulness and service," Call commented.
Both the section and the Hays County United Way were pleased with the results of the inaugural service project. The section collected 700 books and assembled 700 learning supplements, which the United Way will distribute to families throughout the fall. The section plans to continue making community service an integral part of the conclave program, with hope that the next chapter will be as exciting as the first.