Troop 581 Boy Scouts mobilize to aid community after blizzard

Almost everyone recognizes the motto of the Boy Scouts of America as, “Be Prepared,” but most people are unaware of its slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily.”  The Scouts of Troop 581 in Gainesville paid forward enough good turns during the Blizzard of 2016 to have fulfilled its slogan for months.
 
Responding to a state of emergency declared by Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Governor, James Doppee, Troop 581’s Senior Patrol Leader, issued an Emergency Mobilization Plan for the troop.
 
In it, he said, “Scouts who are confined to the indoors can immediately provide service by checking on neighbors, particularly the elderly and physically challenged, using the telephone, contact them and ensure that they have adequate heat, water and food.  Scouts should work with parents to provide remedies for those neighbors who are endangered as a result of the weather conditions.”

Doppee contacted the troop’s nine patrol leaders, and they alerted their patrol members about the plan.  There are 103 scouts, in the troop; more than 80 percent were able to participate. Doppee’s instructions were to shovel snow from around fire hydrants, clear walkways between streets and front doors of elderly and those who have physical difficulties, clear similar walkways of other neighbors, then clear driveways for vehicle access, followed by clearing the area in front of mailboxes to allow the postman access.

A few scouts started working Friday afternoon, Jan 22, when the mega snow storm began, but the effort really picked up on Saturday.

On Monday, Jan. 26, Doppee estimated 155 fire hydrants had been cleared and over 400 hours of service had been accomplished by Troop 581 scouts and parents.

Jarrad Kosa, Scoutmaster, Troop 581, said BSA is first aid oriented; therefore, they were very mindful of the possibility of frostbite and Doppee contacted the troop’s nine patrol leaders, and they alerted their patrol members about the plan.  There are 103 scouts, in the troop; more than 80 percent were able to participate. Doppee’s instructions were to shovel snow from around fire hydrants, clear walkways between streets and front doors of elderly and those who have physical difficulties, clear similar walkways of other neighbors, then clear driveways for vehicle access, followed by clearing the area in front of mailboxes to allow the postman access.

A few scouts started working Friday afternoon, Jan 22, when the mega snow storm began, but the effort really picked up on Saturday.
On Monday, Jan. 26, Doppee estimated 155 fire hydrants had been cleared and over 400 hours of service had been accomplished by Troop 581 scouts and parents.

Jarrad Kosa, Scoutmaster, Troop 581, said BSA is first aid oriented; therefore, they were very mindful of the possibility of frostbite and hypothermia.  Scouts were encouraged to be careful as they served their communities.
 
Residents of Haymarket, Gainesville and Bristow, and its Linton Hall Road corridor were the recipients of these good deeds. According to the scouts, they stayed in contact during what they called the “emergency troop mobilization,” using many forms of communication including telephone, email, Facebook, Twitter and the troop’s website.

With Doppee in charge, the nine patrol leaders, Trip Packer (Ram patrol), Nathaniel Popa (Road Runner), Justin Brandt (Scorpion), Aiden McGuire (Flaming Arrow), Rhys Morgan (Beaver), Chris Vassel (Eagle), Hunter Silvernall (Bat), Stephen Noone (Badger) and Natty Kosa (Mountain Man), mobilized the scouts in their patrols.

Parents were pleased with their sons’ dedication to help others of all ages in their neighborhoods.

Natty Kosa, the Scoutmaster’s son, shoveled out four fire hydrants.

“I’m proud of Mason and Sam, said Tony LaCaza, their father.” They dug out fire hydrants and helped dig out a neighbor lady whose husband [was gravely ill.] We must have helped dig out six houses, including our own. I’d say, in total, they gave eight hours service each Saturday and Sunday combined.”

Kosa became Troop 581 Scoutmaster at its inception in 2002. He is proud of the work of the entire troop.  He cited the work of Andrew and Matthew Mickus as well as Demetrius Smith who had put in over 13 hours and was still working Monday evening.

Troop 581 scouts earned the respect and appreciation of the communities they served so well.