Scouts build mini libraries for kids in foster care

The Boy Scouts of Polson filled tables in the American Legion building on Aug. 2 with six small, hangable bookcases to help CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocates of Lake and Sanders counties support kids in the middle of foster care.

The Boy Scout Troop 1947 of Polson was asked last winter if they would like to create mini libraries that could placed around the towns of Lake and Sanders counties. Community members can donate books, which will be given back to kids in the foster system.

“We thought maybe they had plans, but whatever we wanted to do was up to us,” Scoutmaster Sheri Connors-David said. “No special requirements on the materials, just six of them large enough to put books in, and they would provide the books.”

These bookcases would be used to receive book donations for kids working their way through the court system while getting into foster care. CASA volunteers help give kids being placed in foster care resources while they find a home and recommend accommodations that are in the child’s best interest.

These bookcases offer a way to give back to kids who have almost nothing while moving into a semi-permanent situation.

When the idea for building these bookcases was pitched, the members of Troop 1947 were apprehensive about taking on such a daunting task, according to Boy Scout dad and Assistant Scoutmaster Rob Turner.

“We reiterated that we are very community service-minded,” Turner said. “Actually after talking it through, we can not only give back to the community, a.k.a. CASA, but we can learn some life skills like carpentry, painting, design work, measuring and cutting. So, I think at the end of it, it was the full-package project.”

According to Turner, this complex of an undertaking would typically be more of an Eagle Scout project but, once the kids were on board, they were off and running.

The paint and materials were all donated and the owner of Jason Taylor Construction, Jason Taylor, even donated his time to teach these boys how to build and design the bookcases. The owner of Fisher Painting, Justin Fisher, also helped by showing the scouts how to paint.

“I thought the boys did fantastic,” Turner said. “I think the fact that you had people in the community that worked all day and then still stayed three hours after to help make these is pretty amazing.”

After six full months of construction, the bookcases were ready to go as Ryan Boden, an administrative assistant for CASA, took the finished products out to be placed around Sanders and Lake counties.

The six scouts who worked on this project were Jaspin Fisher, Conner Turner, Daniel David, John David, Nick Snyder and Kyle Snyder.

“I think our nonprofits in the area are always doing great things,” Turner said. “They're always looking for help.” Since there’s often a shortage of volunteers, “this ended up being something where we could step in as a troop and do something that was really cool.”