GRAMPIAN – Boy Scouts of Troop No. 11, Grampian, are working with Dr. Jim Whithers of Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh and Operation Safety Net, which Dr. Whithers founded.
Operation Safety Net is “a health care outreach program for the street homeless population in the Pittsburgh area. Touching the lives of hundreds of men and women living on the streets each year, providing them with access to health care — and the dignity they were previously denied,” according to the Web site.
Scoutmaster Lou Stubbs and Whithers attended school together at Spring Grove Area School District in rural York County. Through mutual classmates, Stubbs learned of Whither’s efforts in Pittsburgh and made contact with him to see how the scouts in Grampian could get involved in a meaningful way. Whithers suggested the sock drive and then have the scouts distribute them with a volunteer team providing care in the field so they would see first hand what it is like in the streets.
The scouts have collected some socks, but still need more. They are accepting new white men’s socks. Socks can be given to any member of Troop No. 11 or contact Stubbs at either 236-4694 or 592-6402.