Eagle Scout Project Provides Goods for Homeless Men
Photo by Jennifer J. Petrick
Troop 708 Eagle Scout candidate Nicholas Hoo and Assistant Scoutmaster Luis Izaguirre go over fine details of a Scout Service Project.
First Presbyterian Church of Hayward (FPCH) and Boy Scout Troop 708 joined forces to help homeless men in need of basic necessities on Aug. 15.
Eagle Scout candidate Nicholas Hoo developed a service project with his scoutmaster and beneficiary, FPCH. His idea was to supply a resource to men who arrive at the church’s shelter.
Hoo wanted to provide items in backpacks stocked with new socks, underwear, and toiletries kits. He learned that many donations are often given for women and children, so he decided to focus on the need for men’s items.
After gaining approval for his Eagle Scout Service Project, Hoo further planned purchasing and logistical details, raised funding, solicited fellow scout volunteers for assembly, and managed to deliver 25 backpacks to individuals at the FPCH Shelter at 2490 Grove Way in Castro Valley.
The shelter opens at 6:30 p.m. daily and that’s when Hoo brought all the packs one recent evening. He handed out the packs to folks as they arrived for the evening. One man was happy to have a clean pair of socks, as he’d just arrived from work and didn’t have time to do laundry. Others shared stories of what brought them to the shelter.
Hoo said that working with the shelter was at times emotional, and meeting people he wished to help was definitely the highlight of his project. At their scout meeting the next day, Hoo was able to share the impact they’d made and encouraged the troop to continue to focus on helping others in our communities.
For more information on FPCH Resource Center or Shelter, visit firstpreshayward.com/community-outreach, call (510) 634-4750, or email saundrea@fph.com. FPCH is currently in need of blankets.
There are five scout troops in Castro Valley and more in San Leandro. All youth ages 11 to 17 are welcome. To find out more about scouting, go online to https://beascout.scouting.org.
Chartered by the Castro Valley Rotary, Boy Scout Troop 708 is chartered by the Castro Valley Rotary Club and meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Hayward.