Boy Scouts of America Troop 321, chartered by American Legion Post 1995, both of Long Beach, recently joined with Open Table Ministries to provide food and donations to homeless individuals before the holidays.
Each month on the second Saturday, a team organized as Open Table Ministries provides a meal to homeless individuals at the 19thth Street Park in Gulfport. At that time, they also are organized to distribute donations, which consist of items such as sleeping bags, tents, gloves, blankets and hygiene items. Most members of Open Table are members of First United Methodist Church of Long Beach.
For the month of December, scouts from Troop 321 joined with Open Table Ministries to help serve. Five scouts and three leaders met, provided dishes for and manned serving stations in the food line. For most of these scouts, this was their first time to interact with homeless individuals. The troop helped serve about fifty people.
In addition to the food provided, the scouts were also able to contribute to the supplies provided. Camping supplies were items that scouts were familiar with that were distributed.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 321 is a high adventure troop whose scouts hail from Diamondhead, Poplarville, Gulfport and Long Beach.
