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Reminder Assistant Editor SPRINGFIELD As the Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 303 of Saint Catherine of Sienna Church, Andrew Parent has to set the example for his entire troop. During a recent project to earn his Star Scout ranking, Parent set an example for his entire community by using his Reminder Publications paper route to collect $250 of canned food for the needy. "I passed out flyers on my paper route and in my neighborhood on a Tuesday and picked up all of the food on Sunday," Parent explained. "I was surprised at the turn out because really a lot of people gave more food than I expected." Once his mother's van was loaded with boxes and cans, they drove down to the Mayflower Marathon, the biggest annual food drive of Open Pantry Community Services Inc. Every year, radio personalities Bax and O'Brien camp outside of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for 52 hours to collect food for the homeless and hungry before Thanksgiving. As Parent and his mother pulled into the event, he said that people rushed to the car and began unloading the donations as they showered the 12-year-old with praise. "Everyone just kept saying good job, and that it was pretty cool," Parent said. "Bax and O'Brien shook my hand and said that because of me, a lot of people won't go hungry on Thanksgiving." A few Eagle Scouts, who were volunteering at the marathon, told Parent to, "keep up the good work." "It is wonderful that the scouts are working actively to help us with the services we provide by not only collecting food but by raising community awareness," said Kevin Noonan, executive director of the Open Pantry. Parent has been flying through the ranks of scouting since he became a Tiger Cub in first grade. For him, scouting is a family tradition. Parent already has three close relatives who have earned the coveted ranking of Eagle Scout, one he hopes to achieve himself before he is 14 years old. Parent credited the success of his food drive to his parents, troop, neighbors and the customers of his paper route over the past four years. He is looking forward to achieving his Star ranking very soon. "As a Star rank, I'll be one of the highest ranks in the troop," Parents said about his upcoming promotion, thanks in part to his food drive. "You have a responsibility to help out the other guys which is pretty good because I know that I can do it." | ||||||
