Boy Scout Troop 81 Thank You to Naperville Community

BSA Troop 81 of Naperville staged a unique fundraiser for 2020 as they adapted to the pandemic environment. In November, Troop 81 pivoted from its annual fall pancake breakfast to selling hand soap and personal-hygiene products online. After learning of the troop’s challenges, Dave Simnick – a Troop 81 Eagle Scout who owns the personal-care products company Soapbox – graciously offered a variety of products to sell and advice on setting up a successful online enterprise. For every product purchased, Soapbox donates a bar of soap to those in need, in the United States and overseas. To date, Soapbox has donated 20 million bars of soap.

In addition to Dave’s contributions, the troop also thanks Rocky Caylor, President and CEO of Cadence Premier Logistics, who provided free space at his Joliet warehouse for the troop to sort and package the products for distribution. In addition to supporting the Boy Scouts, Rocky actively gives back to the community through youth soccer programs, Marine for Life Chicago, Our Patriots LLC, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Fishes and Loaves, and his own Cadence Cares program. The Aurora UPS Store, located at the corner of East New York Street and Eola Road, helped process out-of-town shipments after hours ensuring accurate and timely deliveries.

Using these generous resources, the troop marketed Soapbox product bundles featuring hand soap, sanitizer, hand lotion, and body wash, with the profit going to the troop’s activities & operations. Restricted from their usual in-person sales efforts, Scouts personally promoted the fundraiser via social media, email, and phone. Product bundles were sold and shipped across the country, with local orders personally delivered by the Scouts and their families. In the end, the troop met its fundraising goals and is positioned to continue its program of fun, challenging activities designed to build character, leadership and citizenship in 2021.

Troop 81 thanks its friends and family in the Naperville/Aurora community for their outpouring of support during a challenging time for civic organizations of all kinds. Established in 1934 and chartered by River Glen Presbyterian Church in Naperville, it is one of the oldest continuously operating Scouting groups serving the area.