By Staff Sgt. Zoe Morris, Joint Force Headquarters – West Virginia National Guard

Soldiers + Scouts = “Passion, Persistence, Commitment, and Dedication”

Collecting and donating flood supplies is a legacy community service project for attendees of Scouting America National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia. This year, Scouts are seeing the impact of service in real time after a disastrous storm hit during the Jamboree.

“These hygiene kits and food donations represent more than supplies,” said Glen Ault, 2026 Jamboree Chairman. “They represent compassion, kindness, and the collective efforts of thousands of young people who wanted to help their fellow citizens during a difficult time.”

West Virginia and The Connecticut National Guard Soldiers lent a hand to load 2,500 UMCOR – United Methodist Committee On Relief hygiene kits assembled this week by Scouts and Jamboree volunteers in addition to the normal donation of almost 2,500 cleaning bucket kits. The National Guard also transported pallets of excess food donated from the National Jamboree’s own supply.

Scouting America West Virginia has long played an important role in the Scouting movement as the home of their permanent high-adventure base and the site of the National Jamboree.

“The service project provided Scouts with a meaningful opportunity to give back to the communities that welcome them to the Mountain State,” wrote Scouting America in a press release.

New Vision Depot – WV United Methodist Conference Disaster Response staff and volunteers received the first delivery on Sunday, redistributing 1,020 kits each to the Weston and Buckhannon Disaster Relief centers.

The New Vision Depot shared photos on social media and wrote, “One of the highlights of the day was the cardboard greeting card from Scouts who assembled the Kits!!”

Crisis calls for agility, and our community is #AlwaysReady to respond. Rain or shine, we Press On!

Read about the partners who helped make the cleaning supply flood buckets possible, and about Scouting America’s community service mission here: www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scouts-turn-service-into-action-scouting-america-donates-hygiene-kits-and-food-to-west-virginians-recovering-from-recent-storms/