How to start your own Unit Uniform Bank.

Many people have asked how to to start a bank, here is what I've learned over the past decade:

Before you begin, you will need to realize that this will be a long-term project. It could last over three years. Once you start, you will need to formulate a plan to continue or pass along the bank in the future. It is helpful if you have a storage space available, it need not be at your home, but it should accommodate a fair stockpile of uniforms and equipment. The Denver Area Council provides boxes at the service center for the uniform bank.

To start a uniform bank, begin with your local unit. Ask around to see if there are *any* uniforms available, not just the kind for your unit, but Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Explorer/Venturer and even GSUSA uniforms. These become valuable in trade. From there, expand by advertising at your District Round Table that you are building a uniform bank, and request donations, or advertise that you have connections with others if anyone needs low-cost uniforms, insignia, or equipment. You can check with me if you get any requests.

Check out your local thrift stores. Look in all the areas; sometimes-uniform pants are placed in ladies wear, neckerchiefs can be found hidden among ladies scarves, hats are usually in a huge bin. Look for belts and socks. If your thrift store is friendly, talk with the stockers and tell them that you are looking for Scouting items, and you will pay a premium to get them. Sometimes you can make arrangements with the management to gather Scouting items in exchange for clothing drives with help from local Scouting units.

You may try advertising in low-cost papers like the “Pennysaver,” “Thrifty Nickel, church and school bulletins, and grocery store bulletin boards. Some communities have low- or no-cost newspapers in which you can place an ad. Some communities have internet bulletin boards similar to “Craig’s List.” (http://www.craigslist.org/about/cities.html) This is a free bulletin board for major metro areas across the US. By doing a Google (http://www.google.com) search for “Free Ads” in my community, I found this site: http://www.citynews.com/post/post1.php/ft-collins . There may be one for your area. In the ad, state that you are collecting Scouting uniforms, insignia and equipment for Scouts who can use low-cost items. You may want to create a “throw-away” E-Mail and have it forwarded to your home account. This way, if it starts getting bombarded with SPAM, you can delete the address, and repost.

I've met some people who are professional scroungers. They haunt garage and estate sales, go to flea markets, and also have “connections.” If you ever run across anyone like this, get to know them, and let them know that you need Scouting items. To find them, pay attention to the other shoppers in thrift stores, garage sales, etc. Look for the ones who go for specific items, and choose a lot of them. If you see them over and over again, these are probably scroungers.

Another source is boys who have left the movement. Ask your District Executive if it is possible to get a roster of boys who have crossed from Cubs to Boy Scouts in the last few years. Ask for a list of boys who did not re-register during recharter. Send these families a post card explaining that you are collecting uniforms for needy scouts, and you are willing to purchase their old uniforms.

Visit neighboring scout units and announce that you are starting a uniform bank, and have uniforms available, and are always in need of uniforms.

If you are able to sew, this is a great help. If you can’t sew, try to find someone who can and is willing to repair the uniforms. You might try the local sewing store and ask if there is a sewing club in the area, or if you can post an ad on their bulletin board.

Another source may be a “Uniform Angel,” a person or organization that can purchase uniforms for those in need. Try local civic groups, fraternal organizations, businesses, and churches.

I guess the biggest thing is to let others know you are dedicated to doing this. It will take a long time for people to hear about it, but once they do, they will remember you for years. Once you establish the uniform bank, ensure that it continues on, even if you can't do it. Ask your local service center (not BSA store) if they will continue the bank.

You may also want to join trading clubs on the internet. I found this club on Yahoo! Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cubscoutwants/ . Be careful when joining a Yahoo! or any other free group. Yahoo! uses the information from your profile to sell to advertisers. Eventually, you begin to get hundreds of SPAM mails a day. Avoid this by adjusting your user profile to indicate that you do not want any offers from “Yahoo Partners.”

I also ran across this bulletin board: http://www.saturdaybang.com/uniforms/post.html by doing a search for “Used Scout uniform trading post on google.

Of course there is always eBay. At any given moment, there are hundreds of uniforms listed. I don’t know why, but some sell for more than original retail. But some times you can find a bulk seller who can make a pretty good deal.

If you want to join EUX, let me know, and I'll add you to the mailing list. The way it works, you wait for someone to request a uniform. If the request is for an item you have, respond directly with the requester, and make arrangements. If you don't have what they are asking for, delete the request. If you need to make a request, just send an E-Mail to the group.

If you have tips, let me know.