Owls Patrol Takes a Good Turn Trip

By ALICJA MORAWIEC | Owls Patrol Leader

On Saturday, March 15th, the Owls Patrol from Scout Troop 223G got together for our third and final trip, the Good Turn Trip.

The Good Turn Trip is a service trip organized once a term by each patrol leader to give our Scouts opportunities to live out the BSA motto of helping others. For this, we volunteered for the Hand to Hand Hunger Project, run by Executive Director Kevin Glover.

Hand to Hand is an organization dedicated to caring for those who are unhoused in Santa Monica and surrounding communities to provide people with a better quality of life. It was first started in 1987 by Robert Myers and is currently run by Mr. Glover who has been involved with the organization for over 10 years. Many of the current volunteers were once guests and were assisted by the Hand to Hand Hunger Project.

As the Owls’ patrol leader, I chose the Hand to Hand Hunger Project for our Good Turn Trip because it connected me and my patrol to our community more than any other volunteer opportunity would. We get to talk to the people experiencing homelessness and we get to see the effect of our help firsthand.

Addison, who is my Assistant Patrol Leader, and I got to the Salvation Army building in Santa Monica where Hand to Hand holds their weekly Saturday volunteer event at 7:30am to help with set up. We wiped down tables and chairs in the dining hall before setting out flowers and hand sanitizer in the middle of each table.

Following that, we took boxes of crackers, assorted cookies, water, and apple juice to put into grab-and-go snack bags. We made over 100 bags in our assembly line.

By 8:30am, the rest of the patrol had arrived. Everybody helped sort out clothes by separating shirts, pants, and dresses in piles to hand out later when the guests arrived.

Tables were set out in a circle in the courtyard. UCLA Health came as well to give medical check-ups to those who needed it and set their own table. Other tables included the snack bags we had packed, personal hygiene products such as soap, toothbrush and paste, and a table for spiritual connection.

When all the preparation had been finished, Mr. Glover had all volunteers introduce themselves, and as an icebreaker, share their favorite actor. Duties and table assignments were made, and a prayer was shared.

At 9:00am, the front doors were opened and guests began filing in. They first went to the dining hall for a warm meal and coffee. Bread rolls, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and a sausage patty were served. However, if they preferred a vegetarian meal, there was roasted zucchini and avocado. I estimate that we served over 100 guests over the 2 hour time period.

While the guests ate, Addison and I walked around to pass out water and apple juice. Simultaneously, Alanna and Alaia offered coffee with cream and sugar if the guests wanted it. Avery and Alexis helped serve food to those eating there in the dining hall.

When the crowd had finally slowed down, Alexis and Avery stood by the door to hand out plates with food and water out when guests entered. At 10:30am, the dining hall was closed and we began to help with the clean-up.

We removed the flowers and hand sanitizers from each table, as well as cleaned all leftover trash. Then we wiped down all tables and chairs to make sure they were clean for next time. The chairs were then stacked up on the tables to let other volunteers wipe the floors.

We were all very satisfied and happy to be able to help within our community. I learned that there are so many people in Los Angeles and the surrounding area who are struggling with homelessness and many gather at Hand to Hand for a warm meal and a sense of family.