Boy Scouts Mentor Kids at Pennsylvania Treatment Program

For four years, Boy Scouts in Lower Bucks County, Penn., have been volunteering at Libertae, a residential drug and alcohol treatment program that gives women the opportunity to remain with their children while in treatment.

Located in Bensalem, Libertae houses up to 36 women and 30 children. The Scouts mentor the younger residents at the treatment facility.

"The kids loved that the Boy Scouts came and spent time with them," said Joan Marie Brown, resource director of Libertae.

Richard Brauer, a 14-year-old Scout who volunteered at Libertae, noticed that the children's bicycles were damaged and lacked a storage area.

Using donations from local businesses, friends and family, Richard fixed the broken bikes, built bike racks and a storage unit for helmets, and gave a safety demonstration to the children.

"They don't have a lot of help over there," Richard said. "I got a lot of letters of thanks from them."

(8/13/2004)