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Donations help south Forsyth Boy Scout troop replace stolen gear
scout

SOUTH FORSYTH — A Boy Scout troop from south Forsyth first saw how people can act at their lowest. Now they’ve seen how people can act at their highest.

When community and staff members at two stores heard the troop of some 25 members had its trailer full of camping equipment and other supplies stolen, they decided to help offset the estimated $10,000 loss.

Gander Mountain in Snellville donated camping equipment, and Academy Sports and Outdoors in The Collection at Forsyth presented Troop 1109 with a gift card, said Tom Gillon, Scoutmaster for the troop.

“It’s gear that will help us in all of our outings and support the Scouts,” he said. “We feel very fortunate in the support we’ve received.

“The boys are very excited about the new equipment, and they’re very grateful, as well, that people would come together to help us in the way that they did.”

Individuals have also donated money and items, Gillon said.

The troop, which meets at Lakeside Middle School after forming last year, filed a police report in neighboring Gwinnett County for a stolen trailer at the beginning of April.

According to the incident report, the trailer is fully enclosed and black … there was one orange sticker on the rear door that said ‘KTM world.’”

The donations to replace the stolen items, which included everything from cooking gear, stoves and lanterns to patrol boxes, tools and service project supplies, came at just the right time.

“We’re going on a camping trip this coming weekend,” Gillon said.

He added that the trip to Dahlonega would have been possible without the donations, but the equipment would had to have been bought or pieced together from personal belongings.

“They saw the bad side of humanity with the theft of the trailer and the equipment,” Gillon said, “and now they’re seeing the brighter side, the good side of people. It has far outweighed the bad side.”