First Posted: 7/29/2014
With help from local Cub Scout Kevin Sompel, more than 100 coats will be donated to the Elm Park United Methodist Church in Scranton for underprivileged kids.
Kevin Sompel, a Cub Scout from Pack 16 of Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in Throop, found out that the coat drive at Elm Park United Methodist Church and decided to contribute to it for his Eagle Scout project. He started his own collection of cats called “Kevin’s Koats for Kids.”
“We’re just excited for him earning his Eagle Scout badge,” said his father, Ron Sompel. “We feel it’s an important step for a boy and an accomplishment that would carry him to adulthood.”
Sompel received help from his brother, Brian, Cubmaster of Pack 251 of Clarks Green United Methodist Church. Members of Pack 251 Eric Simakaski and Chris Gardner distributed flyers around the Clarks Green area advertising the coat collection.
The Scouts collected coats the morning of July 26. Kevin and Brian Sompel along with Cub Scouts of Pack 251, including Brian’s son Nathan, brothers Sal and Silvio Schiavone, brothers Zach and Christian Wheeland and brothers Caithan and Julian Cornog, collected coats, which were donated by residents of the Clarks Green area, including the Royal Oaks development. Coats were also collected in the Moosic area.
“I want to thank all the Cub Scouts who passed out flyers and collected the coats,” said Brian Sompel.
Kevin Sompel has been a Cub Scout for 11 years. What he likes best about being a Scout is the all-around training and skills, which he has learned. The Moosic resident and soon-to-be-senior at Scranton Prep is thankful for the help of the coat drive of Pack 251.
“I like to thank all the sSouts who helped out,” he said. “We helped out many kids who need coats.”
All donations will be delivered to Elm Park United Methodist Church on July 30. Coats can still be donated at designated drop off sites at Our Lady of Snows in Clarks Summit or South Abington United Methodist Church.