Boy Scout Coffee Stops Back In Business

There are few things in life that are free; unless you are traveling on I-95 through Waterford during the Labor Day weekend.

The boy scouts are giving away free coffee and donuts to get road weary drivers to pull over and rest.

The boy scouts from East Lyme and Waterford have been running the coffee stop at the weigh station on labor day weekend for 25 years. After a one year hiatus, the coffee stop is back open.

Twelve year old boy scout Abe Feldman was thrilled to have one of the first 8 hour shifts and hopes he can help people on their long car trips. "If they fall asleep they might crash into all the cars. They might crash into the side or something like that and that would be really really bad," he said.

Last year though the D-O-T put an end to it claiming it was unsafe. Local leaders stepped forward with a bill to reopen it, claiming not only was the site safe, but it made the roads safer.

"People have to remember from Madison to the Rhode Island border there is no place to stop," said Senator Andrea Stillman who wrote the bill. "You couldn't ask for a safer place to stop when they're tired and need to stretch their legs and have a coffee or water and have something to eat."

The coffee stop is open 24/7 throughout the holiday weekend and drivers are taking advantage of it.

Earl Pavlik took a break from a 218 mile trip from New Jersey to Providence, for a hot cup of joe. "I was looking for a second cup of coffee on the way up here and I figured I saw the sign and of course with the boy scouts of America, I was a scout master for many years. I figured I'd stop and make a donation to the boy scouts, " said Pavlik, stepping out of his van.

While the refreshments are free, the boy scouts say a donation goes a long way. All of the money collected will be given to charity.
 

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