Eagle Scout project about helping where it’s most needed

Andrew Tubbs, a member of Scout Troop 182, hopes his Eagle Scout project helps anyone in need.

He installed a new “Blessing Box” on the Redemption Christian Church campus, filled with dry and canned goods that anyone in need can access 24/7.

The Blessing Box wasn’t his first idea for an Eagle Scout project. Initially, the JHS swimmer had considered cleaning and organizing the high school’s swimming and diving storage room.

“But I decided against it since I had felt it didn’t benefit the community as a whole more than those who are on the swim team,” Andrew explained. “I wanted something that anyone can benefit from, without it being a temporary fix. I wanted something that would last longer than my original project, so I kept thinking.”

He was inspired by another Troop 182 Eagle Scout project that had created a food donation box near the Jasper Public Library.

“Every time I passed by the box at the library, it was almost completely empty, so I decided that that’s what I’ll make, a larger-scale version of what we had done in the past,” he explained.

After gaining approval, he and several younger scouts in the troop worked together to build the box and set it in its foundation on the church campus.

Now, he wants the public to know that the box is available for anyone who would like to donate food items or for those in need. He sees the box as an alternative to the other community food services that are only available on certain days of the week.

“St. Vincent’s has a weekly food drive that they do, but it’s only on Wednesdays, and some people need it more often than that,” he explained. “I believe that building the box is the best way that I can help to provide that. In short, I hope to help those that need it the most.”

The Blessing Box is located on the east side of the church. If you would like to donate, you can drop off items in the box. Alternatively, if the box is full, you can leave the food inside the building or at the door.  

Andrew is a member of the JHS Swimming and Dive team and the vice president of the robotics club. He has been in scouts as long as he can remember, starting in the Webelos. He plans on obtaining all five Eagle Palms after being awarded his Eagle Scout.