Lansing Cub Scouts help warm community with blankets

Lansing Cub Scout Pack 48 has long been a source of emotional warmth for its members and leaders, and this fall, the scouts decided to give some warmth to the community, making dozens of cozy blankets for children in need.

Jenn Pluta, den leader and assistant cubmaster, helps to lead the group of over 40 children from kindergarten through fifth grade and has been coordinating the blanket project, from donations to crafting to delivering. As she explained, the blanket-making project was part of the pack’s history of service-oriented work.

“This is the first time that we did something of this scale,” she said. “We’ve done a few little things where we made cards to terminally ill children, we’ve given gifts to veterans and that sort of thing, but this is the first project that took more than one meeting. So, it was a bigger project. And we tried to include the community with this project as well, which we haven’t done too much of in the past to my knowledge.”

Pluta sent out the call for donations — whether for time, funds or spare fabric — in early November on Facebook, and she said, “I’m happy that we received as many donations as we did.”

“I think people really enjoyed the idea of this,” she said. “It’s something that’s unique. And you can really see how it’s helpful to the local families. And I think it was nice that people could kind of pick and choose how much they could help. They could either help with the work, they could help with the cost or both. And I think people enjoyed the idea of it. And I think they had fun making the blankets.”

In all, Pack 48 made 31 blankets, which were given to children in need by the school district late last month.

Pluta said the experience was great for everyone involved, with pack members enthusiastic throughout and community members grateful for their efforts.

“I feel like there are so many service opportunities already where we provide coats and hats and we provide toys for the children and we provide services,” she said. “So, this was a project that I think was well needed. And hopefully, it helped a lot of people in a way that I don’t know that they were being helped before.”

With this year’s success, Pluta said she could see another project like this in the pack’s future, though maybe not right away.

“Blankets are something that last a long time — I hope that they last a long time — so I don’t know that there’s a need for that next year,” she said. “But I do like having a project that really impacts the community in a positive way and helps in a different way. … And I’m already trying to think of ways we can help next year, something outside of the box. What does our community need that they’re not getting?”

Aside from the blanket project, Pluta shared other bright spots for the pack over the past several months and going into next year.

“So far this year, we went to a local farm, and the kids really loved it,” she said. “They saw baby cows so new that one was actually born while we were there. So, they really enjoyed going to that farm. … The holiday party is always a big hit that we have in December. And we have a few fun activities lined up for next spring. Our Pinewood Derby, of course, that’ll be in February. And I think that’s some kids’ favorite activity of the year.”

For more information about the pack, visit lansing48.mypack.us.

Lansing at Large appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.

In brief:

Non-Pipe Alternatives info session

You may know that Lansing has a gas moratorium in effect — meaning no new gas connections and the need to reduce gas use overall to ensure reliability for everyone — but did you know that on top of heat pump incentives available to all of its customers, NYSEG is offering additional incentives for Lansing residents?

Join local community members this Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lansing Community Center, 29 Auburn Rd., for a community meeting on these opportunities hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and NYSEG.

Come learn about the incentives, the projects in the Lansing “Non-Pipe Alternatives” portfolio (tinyurl.com/29fkgllw) and how heat pumps can work for you. It’s free, with light snacks and the opportunity to ask all of your questions.

For more information, contact Guillermo Metz at gm52@cornell.edu or (607) 272-2292 extension 185.

Events at the library

Lansing Community Library has several events for community members to enjoy over the next week. At 10:30 a.m. tomorrow is its story time, led by Miss Shelley.

On Friday, the weekly T’ai Chi classes with John Burger from Lifelong continue from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. downstairs. Classes are free and open to the general public. Suggested donation is $5. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.

On Tuesday, the library’s weekly Learn To Play Mah Jongg series continues, starting at 10:15 a.m. This is a fun, relaxed and stress-free way to learn American Mah Jongg. Bring your own set or borrow one at the library. For more information, call (607) 280-2602 or email helenbakerhmb2014@outlook.com.