Auburn’s Mark Dempsey lost his job and home but not his desire to help send his Boy Scouts to summer camp.

“This is not about me,” said Dempsey, a journeyman sheet metal worker who recently was laid off. “This is about the boys. I have put the Boy Scouts ahead of me. … I need to be there for my scouts.”

As Scoutmaster for Troop 355, Dempsey wants his group of 12 boys to experience the fun of the July 11-16 summer camp at Fire Mountain near Mount Vernon. The eight-member Troop 302 will join Dempsey’s dozen, but about a third of the group will need financial help to get there.

Cost of attending the camp is $230 for each scout.

“My current economic situation complicates our ability to attend camp,” Dempsey said. “Work has been a bit scarce lately. My wife is a full-time college student, and we have four children.

“My hope is to find some help with being able to afford the cost of going to camp with my troop,” he said. “If there is anyone out there who can find it in their heart to help this scouter out, I would be very grateful.”

An endowment has been established at Keller Williams Realty. Donations can be dropped off at the Auburn office or sent to: Lisa Serratos-McGregor, realtor, c/o Boy Scout Troop 355, 1002 15th St. SW, No. 106, Auburn, WA, 98001.