Stolen Trailer Leads To Incredible Community Support For Scouts

What started as a frustrating loss for a Maple Grove Boy Scout troop is now turning into a powerful story about how we can fix so much when we all come together.

Earlier this month, a Maple Grove Boy Scouts troop trailer, filled with nearly all of the scouts’ camping gear, was stolen from a church parking lot.

SUPPLIES LOST

Inside were tents, cooking supplies, and the necessary equipment used for camping trips, training, and outdoor adventures. The gear represented years of fundraising, planning, and community support, and losing it overnight was a devastating blow.

Despite multiple security measures in place, it wasn't enough to prevent major damage to the trailer and its theft. The loss threatened the troop’s ability to continue planned activities and outings, so a GoFundMe page was set up to ask the community to help the troop rebuild what they had lost.

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A SURPRISING TURN OF EVENTS

In an update shared with supporters, the troop announced that the trailer has now been found! Unfortunately, it was returned in rough shape.

The once-red trailer that was covered in the scouts’ names had been painted over in white. The troop also had to pay $300 to get the trailer out of the impound, and the inside had been gutted and then filled with utter garbage. Old Mattresses, garbage, and even an old sink cabinet filled the trailer. The shelving units were gone. The front storage box, which held the battery and solar panels, was also missing. The trailer lighting needed to be replaced.

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BOYSCOUTS

Boy Scouts are known for giving back to their communities in meaningful ways, and this Maple Grove troop is no exception. Their service projects include:

• Roadside cleanups near Maple Grove High School
• Groundskeeping at a local cemetery
• Placing wreaths on gravestones at Fort Snelling

MINNESOTANS PULL TOGETHER TO HELP

While the theft was discouraging, the response has been the exact opposite.

The nearly completed fundraiser shows just how many people believe in what these scouts are doing. At last check, more than $23,000 had been raised toward the $25,000 goal to help repair the trailer and replace the lost equipment.

GOOD FOR GOOD

In the end, the trailer may have been returned in rough shape, but the community response has proven something far more important. When young people are working hard to do good, people are willing to step up and help.

And thanks to that support, this Maple Grove troop will soon be back on track.

If you’d like to help them reach their goal, you can support the fundraiser and be part of the story by clicking HERE.