By  Joanie Cox-Henry  |  The Sun-Sentinel
Albano, Mason Galinis, Matthew Garafola and Samual Jones, and pack leader
Michael Garafola, in back, recently helped residents in the Boca DelrayÂ
Country Club with a food truck event. (submitted photo / FPG)
Despite headlines blaring gun violence in schools and other adolescent tragedies, Oriel Cohen said believes there’s plenty of good still happening in the world, especially with youths.
The 80-year-old entertainment director at Boca Delray Country Club in Delray Beach, along with his wife Loretta, came up with an idea to bring a food truck event to their community.
“We like to think out of the box and come up with things that are unconventional and entertaining,” he said. “I spoke to a food truck director and he said he had never heard of food trucks going to a condo community. We immediately knew we wanted to bring this concept to our neighbors.”
Cohen also recognized the challenges carrying meals from a food truck could pose for seniors so he called on a few volunteers from Cub Scout Pack 308 last year. The scouts made the event so successful, they returned this year to help out.
Pack leader Michael Garafola was eager to lend a hand.
“This was our second year being involved with this Boca Delray Country Club event,” said Garafola, a Delray Beach resident. “I have two sons in the pack and to see the looks on these young men’s faces as they’re carrying trays of food to senior citizens is really special to see. We want to instill the values and importance of helping others in these boys.”
In fact, helping others and serving the community is part of the Scout oath.
“These boys take an oath to help other people at all times,” Garafola, 33, said. “It makes all of us feel good to be giving back to the community in some way. One of these boys could grow up and really change the world.”
Garafola’s sons Michael, 8, and Matthew, 7, couldn’t wait to return to Boca Delray Beach Country Club this year.
“This is definitely one of my favorite events,” Michael said. “I have a lot of friends in Cub Scouts who also enjoy helping. It’s good to help others.”
Matthew said he is thrilled to be doing something for the community with his brother and father.
“Being in Cub Scouts means a lot to me,” he said. “The lobster food truck is definitely my favorite to deliver food from. The Scout motto is always to ‘do your best’ and I try to do that every day.”
The scene was all smiles as the residents of Boca Delray Country Club received their food on Jan. 29.
“Oriel does a great job with this event and it’s such a fun idea to bring the food trucks,” said Marvin Greenberg, a full-time resident of Boca Delray Country Club. “I think everyone appreciates it and it’s really wonderful to have the Scouts here.”
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/delray-beach/fl-drf-scouts-0210-20160210-story.html
