Sep 17, 2005 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

The 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa not only brings moneymaking opportunities for local businesses, but local community organizations also benefit from the event as well. For the third year in a row, Boy Scout troops from Farmington and Uniontown will be raising money by parking cars at the VIP parking lot.

Kristen Eagle, Boy Scouts senior district executive, said that it is a tough job that she wouldn’t care to do herself.

“It is very labor intensive,” said Eagle. “The troop leaders and parents go up there very early and work long hours, but every year they do it for the kids. A lot of them take vacation time just so they can do this to raise money for the troop.”

Scoutmaster Phil Thewes said that although some Boy Scouts could park cars, the adults do the job to avoid any problems that could arise.

“The older boys come up and help out with some other small things,” said Thewes. “But the troop leaders and parents do all of the parking.”

Thewes said that each year they have about 30 people who volunteer to park cars. They arrive to work early, usually around 6 a.m., and don’t go home until 7 p.m. But, he said, they feel privileged to have the opportunity to make extra money and they do the best they can.

“It’s a really good opportunity for the parents to make money for the boys,” said Thewes. “We try to park everyone in a good spot.”

He said that all of the VIP customers have paid for parking in advance, which makes the job a little easier for the volunteers. “We don’t collect any money and they already have the amount set that we will be paid every year,” explained Thewes.

He said that last year, the troop made about $3,600 by parking cars, which he thought was a “pretty generous amount.”

“If we do really well with a hoagie sale and we sell 500 hoagies, we only make $500,” said Thewes. “So working for the PGA Tour really helps a lot.”

He said that the money they raise helps them pay for summer camp, and other events throughout the year.

“It costs about $170 a week for each Boy Scout to go to summer camp,” said Thewes. “And sometimes we take day trips when we go for hikes or we go to the Holiday Inn or the Hampton Inn and pay $5 a person so that they boys can swim during the winter. The extra money helps us make sure that all the boys can participate.”

The Rev. Dale Rexrode of United Mountain Christian Fellowship Church said his congregation is also taking the opportunity to raise money during the tournament.

“This will be the third year we’ve parked cars there and it has gone very well in the past,” said Rexrode. “We really enjoy it and the people have been very nice even with the all the confusion that sometimes happens. It has been a pleasure to work there.”

Rexrode said members of the church take turns volunteering in the morning and late afternoon and evening, and they have around 35 people who come and go throughout the day.

“All of the money collected from each of the parking lots is put together and divided equally among all the groups,” said Rexrode. “Last year, we made over $3,000. It just depends on how many people come.”

Rexrode said the church is planning to purchase property and build a new sanctuary, and the money raised this year will go toward the new building.