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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Boy Scouts Troop 304 to hold popcorn sales in hopes of replacing camp with bike trip

The South Hill Boy Scouts Troop 304 will sell popcorn at parking lots around the South Hill in hopes of raising money for a summer bike ride. The troop’s members are pictured. Top left, Tristan Sims. Second row, from left, Jim Dineen, Denise Sims, Cayden Garberg, Jackson Storey, Andrew Bennett, Zachary Price, Michael Mitchell, Finnegan Donnelly, Brandon Bisson and Aaron Norlander. Kneeling, from left, James Ward, Axel Nellenbach, Demetrios Tsakarestos, Chris Schilbe, Ethan Garrett, Adrian Fernandez and Braeden Cottier.  (Courtesy of Troop 304)

After months of canceled meetings and scaling down plans due to the pandemic, Boy Scouts Troop 304 on the lower South Hill will hold a pop-up fundraiser in hopes of raising money for a bike ride.

Jodi Dineen, the Troop 304 committee chair, said the 19 troop members normally raise funds by knocking on doors, talking to friends and family and setting up popcorn stands at grocery stores. Most of those activities have been canceled to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. She said the troop is planning to replace those with a smaller pop-up outdoor fundraiser where the troops will sell popcorn at tables in parking lots.

“We just hope people will support the Boy Scouts in this tough time,” she said. “If we’re not out selling popcorn, there’s no way to finance our troop.”

Dineen said every boy will wear a mask, have hand sanitizer and the troop will use a payment app which will allow electronic sales . A buyer doesn’t have to stand at the table for several minutes to be able to buy popcorn.

She said the troop is hoping to sell $5,000 worth of popcorn for a bike ride next summer.

The troop normally raises between $19,000 and $25,000 which pays for everyone to attend Boy Scouts Camp, but replaced that camp with a less expensive bike ride planned for next summer in the San Juan Islands.

Dineen said the troop decided on a $5,000 bike riding trip over camp because members worried they wouldn’t be able to raise $20,000 and would be stuck with a significant investment of popcorn and no buyers.

She said they have a 50-mile bike ride planned for Orcas Island, which will give the troop a chance to earn cycling badges.

Troop 304 will sell caramel corn for $10 a bag at four locations on the lower South Hill.

She said popcorn will be available in the Fiesta Mexicana parking lot at 1227 S. Grand Blvd, the Roosevelt Elementary parking lot at 333 W. 14th Ave, at the Dentist Office parking lot at the intersection of Monroe Street and 14th Avenue and at the Super 1 Foods parking lot at 830 E. 29th Ave.

Popcorn will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. this weekend and Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 10-11.