Did you know over 2,000 youth are homeless or in poverty in Fairfax County? When Life Scout Jack D. of Troop 118 in Alexandria, Virginia, learned that he decided it was time to take action. He learned that many of these teenagers lack personal hygiene products; the ability to keep themselves feeling clean would allow them to have more confidence in going to school and participating in community activities.
Jack decided he would hold a personal hygiene drive for his Eagle Scout Service Project. First, he had to reach out to Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and Coordinated Service Planning (CPS) Department and coordinate with his Troop’s leadership to create the plan. Unfortunately, just as his plan was being finalized the COVID-19 pandemic reached Fairfax. Being the resilient Scout he is, Jack adjusted his plan to reduce social interaction. With the power of social media, Jack alerted all those he knew, informing them the drop-off locations were.
Through his efforts and with the help of his Troop and his community, the drive was a success with about 1,000 items donated! While Jack found it rather difficult to hold this drive during a pandemic, looking back he stated, “I was doing something crucial for my community, especially in a time where every person’s health means safety and comfort in a stressful time.”
