News : All-Scouts fund-raiser help Caleb Stewart family with medical expenses

Girl Scouts hold a sign to encourage passers-by to stop at the fund-raising lunch for Caleb.

Scout leaders planned to serve 500 people at Fareway Saturday, for the fund-raiser.

The cake expressed the goal of the Scouts' fund-raiser.

Rob Levis, Greg Sampson and Russell Kraklio work at the fund-raiser for Caleb.

The Boy and Girl Scouts who helped with fund-raiser for Caleb pose with him in Fareway parking lot.

Russell Kraklio manned the grill for the Scouts, cooking burgers, brats and hot dogs.

Since Caleb Stewart of Vinton was diagnosed with cancer, the community has rallied around him and his family, helping in a variety of ways to alleviate the financial burden of Caleb's medical care.

On Saturday, local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts joined the effort at an All-Scouts fund-raising lunch at Fareway. The Scouts and their families collected donations, baked goodies and helped serve hundreds of people in the parking lot. Russell Kraklio and other Scout leaders ran the grill, as the Scouts helped serve and bus tables. Other Scouts held up signs encouraging passers-by to stop and eat lunch and support the Stewart family.

Caleb was there, in his Boy Scout uniform. His mother Maggie says Caleb is doing very well, but feeling tired. His cancer, she said, is confined to one small spot under his arm which doctors are monitoring. But, she said, Caleb is not currently undergoing any cancer treatments.

Scout leader Greg Sampson said the Scouts had planned to serve 500 people brats burgers or hot dogs.

Maggie again says thanks to the Vinton community and all those who have helped her family through this difficult time.

"We couldn't have done this without the support of the community," said Maggie. "Everyone has been so awesome. It's amazing to see the support they have given us. I want to say a big thank you to everyone."

Maggie adds that so many people have helped the Stewart family that it would be impossible to name them all.

"We had an awesome turnout," said Maggie of Saturday's lunch event. "I was so pleased to see the Scouts come out and help."

Caleb, a long-time Cub and now Boy Scout, enters the 8th grade this month.