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Why steal from the youth?

A matter has just come to my attention that upsets me on many levels, and I would like to bring it to the attention of our community.

Dear Editor,

A matter has just come to my attention that upsets me on many levels, and I would like to bring it to the attention of our community.

The Scouting movement is a non-profit movement that was developed over 100 years ago by Lord Baden-Powell as an organization to encourage youth to make a real and valuable contribution to society, through the development of leadership skills, and the concept of “Creating a better world”.

The Stettler Scouts is a group that benefits many of the youth in our community as well as reaches out and helps the community itself in many ways. The annual fees are subsidized by our local group committee to keep the costs down for the youth and their families and we offer help in various ways so everyone has the ability to join. This year, understandably, our assistance has been required on a larger scale and we have met the need within our community.

One of the major fundraisers we commit to annually to help with this financial assistance is the Christmas tree lot. Each year, a dedicated group of youth and parents spend hours setting up, opening up, and selling the beautiful trees many of us place in our homes each year to celebrate the season. Many of these hours are spent in below freezing temperatures, in blizzard like conditions, after school and work schedules, and yet they are dedicated enough to bare it all.

With that in mind, I dare to ask, why someone has to STEAL our Christmas trees? I am not talking about a theft of one or two trees; I am talking about that fact that we are missing over a dozen Christmas trees varying in price from $55-70 per tree! We have lost over $7550 so far this year which would be used to help out our youth and community, and in these hard financial times, that leads to helping out over a dozen youth!

I understand times are tough for many families, this year especially, but what makes these people think they deserve a tree for free over any other family? Do they not realize that other families are struggling this year as well? Do they not realize that when we are struggling, the whole community struggles with us?

On top of that, we have heard rumored stories of witnesses to the thefts from the tree lot. Where are these people and why are they not reporting this to the police on our behalf? A theft is a theft whether it is from a store down the street, or a non profit run tree lot ran by volunteers!

We do have a few witness accounts and are in contact with the police for this matter, but please, if anyone out there knows any information about our missing trees, contact myself or the Stettler RCMP and report the facts!

To those thieves,

You have not stolen from Scouts Canada. You have not stolen from the supplier of our trees. You have stolen from the hard working youth of our community who deserve to be part of an organization such as Scouts Canada.! If you are one of those who took a tree, and you do have a conscience, please feel free to send the money to:

First Stettler Scouts

Box 224

Stettler, Alberta

T0C 2L0

Donna Morris-Stettler

No questions will be asked, and no charges will be laid with payment. All trees are marked with a tag showing their appropriate prices, so you will know how much to send.

If we let these people get away with this, what are they going to steal next, and from whom?

Donna Morris

First Stettler Scouts

Group Commissioner