Boy Scouts To Cater—

Hungering For A Good Book

By Nancy K. Crevier

For those who need something more than a good book to sink their teeth into, for the sixth year in a row, Boy Scouts will be serving up breakfast and lunch to hungry book browsers at the 33rd Annual Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale, Saturday, July 12, through Wednesday, July16, said Troop 70 treasurer Robert Taylor.

The approximately 30 young men, ages 11 to 17, have undergone training with the Newtown Health Department and are prepared to handle the 50 to 60 pounds worth of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, as well as several pounds of sausage and peppers, that they will sell in what Mr Taylor said is “the biggest fundraiser of the year” for the Scout troop. On average, the troop raises about $1,500 over the course of the five-day book sale, all of which goes toward funding the many Troop 70 activities during the year, and the purchase of tents and stoves used on troop camping trips.

The troop sets up tents and tables before the first day of the book sale, said Mr Taylor, and the boys work four-hour shifts over the course of the sale, under adult supervision. Although they are housed beneath a tent, the school allows Troop 70 to use the coolers and sinks, and everyone is very cooperative, he said.

Sometimes, the boys’ involvement extends beyond their culinary expertise. The Scouts volunteer each year to assist in setup of the book sale, and one year, recalled Mr Taylor, “The book sale was held under tents at Fairfield Hills. The Scouts camped on-site, keeping watch over the tents filled with books all night.”

Bright and early, though, the boys scrambled to get the java brewing, as they awakened to lines of people waiting for the sale to begin — at 4:30 am.

Before firing up the two grills for lunch foods each day, Troop 70 has giant urns churning out steaming cups of coffee and serves up home baked pastries, doughnuts, and bagels from Bagel Delight.

By late morning, the tantalizing aroma of grilled peppers and onions is drifting through the crowd making its way to the entrance of Reed School. It is a heady scent hard to pass up, and Mr Taylor expects that this year will again see record sales of the popular hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and sausage and peppers.

 Bottled water and soda are also available for purchase, and Mr Taylor said that the troop has noticed a trend the past three years of selling more water and diet soda than regular soda. Each year the Troop sells 25 to 30 cases of chilled soda and water, with bottled water now counting for nearly 50 percent of the beverage sales.

“We hope by providing this service to make it easier for people to stay longer and support the book sale,” said Mr Taylor.