The United Methodist Church’s Good Samaritan Award is a distinguished honor for those who do unselfish acts that have a long lasting effect on the community. Last year, Spencer Jolley, a Star Scout in Simon Kenton Council and Ordeal member of Tecumseh Lodge, became one of the first in his council to earn this prestigious award.
It all started back when Spencer was in Cub Scouts. Around Christmas time, Spencer and his mother were driving along when he spotted the residents of Columbus Colony Nursing Home. The facility houses more than 100 elderly residents, most of whom would not receive Christmas presents. Upon seeing this, Spencer asked his mother, “Why don’t those people get presents too?”
In an effort to remedy this lack of holiday cheer, Spencer gifted cookies to all 150 residents of the nursing home. After this small gift, Spencer constructed a giving tree with suggested gift ideas. Local Scout families then purchased these gifts, so they could be gifted to the nursing home residents. To add to the holiday cheer, the Scouts assisting Spencer were taught the sign language needed to say “Merry Christmas” to the residents. These little actions soon were carried on even after Spencer left the pack and bridged over to Boy Scouts in 2012. His pack, Pack 966, is still continuing Spencer’s legacy of spreading holiday cheer.
As E. Urner Goodman said, "For he who serves his fellows, is of all his fellows, greatest." Spencer truly took these words to heart, and was not left without reward. Soon after the project he received the United Methodist Church Good Samaritan Award and his project was then named the Simon Kenton Council’s 2014 Best Service Project of the Year, which his pack received.
Those interested in earning the award should heed these words of Spencer: “Give it a lot of thought: do something with and for the community, leave your own wants behind those of others.” The Good Samaritan Award is presented for outstanding ministry to others through outreach, humanitarian assistance or advocacy. It is available to individuals between the age of 6-30 who are registered with a troop affiliated with the United Methodist Church, or are a member of the United Methodist Church. Those interested in recognizing a good samaritan - like Spencer - should visit http://www.gcumm.org/files/uploads/GOOD%20SAM%20brochure%202013.pdf for more information.