This really isn't a unit fundraising question, but this forum seemed to be the best fit. A young woman with several children in our area has received a fairly grim cancer diagnosis. Several of her friends and family are organizing a fundraising benefit for her and her family. They have asked if any of our scouts would like to volunteer to help. Primarily they would be helping with setup and serving food.

Obviously, the scouts may do whatever they want on their own free time. My question is, whether we can consider this a troop activity, and count the time as service hours (I recognize this is primarily a matter within the SM's discretion)? It isn't a unit fundraiser, so we presumably don't need to complete a unit money earning application. But I wondered whether anyone thought this language, which appears to come from the national by-laws has any applicability: "Youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money for chartered organization units, for the local council, or in support of other organizations."

On a related note, could they wear uniforms while working at the benefit? They're not selling a commercial product, and it doesn't seem within the realm of the unit fundraising rules. It seems like positive exposure without any of the concerns that underly the other prohibitions. Thoughts?