Cub Scout Pack 805 brightens holidays for many in need

Members of Windham Cub Scout Pack 805
gather at the Windham Walmart for a food
drive to collect donated items for the Windham
Food Pantry. COURTESY PHOTO

By Ed Pierce

For members of Windham Cub Scout Pack 805, the Christmas spirit is about something greater than themselves this year.

The scouts have adopted two families identified as being in need this holiday season and following their pack meeting at Windham Middle School on Monday evening, they will deliver food, toys and clothing they collected to make Christmas special for those families and others in the community.      

“We want the Cub Scouts to take away from this experience the realization that Christmastime isn’t just about getting presents, but about helping others and spreading joy,” said Casey Melanson, Windham Pack 805 Den Leader. 

She said that Windham Cub Scout Pack 805 has done this twice before and did their best to make sure wish lists created by the families in need were met.

“Scouts and parents were excited to help people in our community,” Melanson said. “It’s been such a trying year for so many and we wanted to make the holidays better for someone who needed help.”

Working with a guidance counselor from Windham Primary School, Melanson said more than three dozen scouts helped with the collection drive.

“Our food drive collected hundreds of items for the Windham Food Pantry,” she said. “We filled two vehicles with boxes and bags of items collected from the drive. We also collected $977 in cash donations during the drive.” 

According to Melanson, Windham Cub Scout leaders felt this effort was significant because it connects the scouts with all segments of the community.  

“We want our scouts to learn what is means to be part of something important, what is means to help their community, to make new friends, build relationships, and most importantly grow as young men.”

She said becoming a Cub Scout is almost like a rite of passage for many boys in Windham.

“Our pack is a great group of scouts and parents. We care about each other, push each other, and just all around have fun,” Melanson said. “Cub Scout activities emphasize having fun and learning useful life skills. “

Melanson said this year’s food and toy drives show that Cub Scouts can do anything they put their minds to.

“We have gone winter camping, hiking, ice fishing, and built lean-tos in the winter woods,” Melanson said. “We also have our annual Pinewood Derby where the boys design and build their own cars and then compete against one another. As a pack we have had beach outings, cookouts, movie nights, and EVO Rock Gym overnights.”

She became involved with the Cub Scouts when her son joined as a Tiger in first grade. He’s now in sixth grade and has now crossed over to participating in the Boy Scouts.

“I was just a scout mom, but soon became part of and then Chair for the Fundraising Committee. I am also now the Den leader for this year’s second-graders, the Wolves,” Melanson said.

During the summer, members of Cub Scout Pack 805 work on completing their achievements so that the scouts could move up in rank. Some of those activities include learning about First Aid, safety, teamwork, nutrition, and other topics.

Meeting weekly, Melanson said that the ultimate intent of the Cub Scouts program is to teach the scouts about responsibility, caring, and instruction in an array of different skills that will help them throughout their lives.

“I’d like to thank the whole pack, scouts and parents for making this Christmas drive a success.” Melanson said. “Without all their efforts during our food drive and this toy drive we wouldn’t be able to make the differences we are.”

For more information about Cub Scout Pack 805, visit their Pack 805 Windham Maine Facebook page or send an email to scoutpack805me@gmail.com <