MUNROE FALLS, Ohio — The Boy Scouts’ motto is “be prepared,” but nothing could have prepared the Munroe Falls Boy Scout troop for what happened to them.
The troop’s camping trailer that was filled with $10,000 worth of camping equipment was stolen.
The group kept their trailer locked at a church in Munroe Falls when it was stolen.
Matthew Thomas, 16, who is a member of the troop, said he was shocked when the theft happened.
“We were just getting out of our cars, and saw the trailer, or where the trailer should be,” Matthew said. “All that there was left there was the blocks that stop it from rolling away.”
Assistant Scoutmaster Lee Thomas said he shared what happened on Facebook.
“I put a post out there kind of sharing my disappointment and sadness,” Lee said. “The reaction was amazing. I think within the first 24 hours we had over 1,200 shares.”
Many people commented on the Facebook post that Lee shared and wondered how they could help, so the group set up a Go Fund Me account.
“Within 36 hours we had almost achieved or exceeded our goal of $10,000s to raise for that,” Lee said.
The community donated more than enough money for the troop to buy all new gear and they have excess funds left over that they will donate to two other Boy Scout troops in the area.
“I’m really looking forward to getting a new trailer, new gear and getting out there and going camping again with the newer scouts,” Matthew said. “It feels great just to pay it forward and show other troops that even if people steal our trailers then we can come back and pay it forward to others.”
Despite having to start from scratch, the troop is staying positive about their situation.
“You can take our camping gear, you can take our equipment, you can take our trailer, you can take all of those things,” Lee said. “What you can’t take away is the memories that these boys will share as a scout troop.”
