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EAGLE SERVICE PROJECT TO BENEFIT THE 1ST DIVISION MARINE CORPS This is a "good news" story. This is a story about what one person can do. This is a story of love for others and love for our troops. This is a story of Nick Balbona, an OLPH School eighth grader, who, in looking for a project to earn his Eagle Scout Service Badge, set a parish community into action - giving with unexpected generosity. Nick began his drive by holding a competition between OLPH classrooms for the most items collected. He designed a flyer to be sent home to all the school families, which listed acceptable items. The response was immediate and amazing. Nick made arrangements with Father Tom to speak at all Masses. Nick and his volunteers collected donations on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, April 28th and 29th. The result of all Nick's planning and work was the collection of 13,000 items, which were shipped from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twenty-nine Palms, California, to Iraq on May 15th. In addition to these items, the students wrote and enclosed 180 letters to the soldiers. To read an article from the Scottsdale Republic dated 07/06/2007, please click here. To read the Arizona Republic article dated 07/08/2007, please click here. The heroes of our story don't just include Nick, his volunteers, the school and parish families who gave so generously. Put yourself in the place of Nick's parents, who continued to support and encourage their son, even though his project soon became a garage-sized challenge. See pictures below! If you are interested in learning more about Boy Scouts of America, Troop 446, please visit their website at www.scoutingisfun.com/
The collection and sorting begins. |
