Eagle Scout Project Focuses On COVID Survival Kits For Homeless

OAK LAWN, IL — As an Eagle Scout candidate, Richards High School senior Adam Schrode is already demonstrating leadership. His service project, collecting items to make COVID-19 survival kits for homeless persons has already captured the hearts of local residents who saw his promo on Facebook.

Adam, 17, will be holding a drive-thru collection drive as his final Eagle project from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at First United Methodist Church, 100th Street and Central Avenue, Oak Lawn.

“I did not expect this many people to be interested,” Adam said. “It’s kind of intimidating.”

The Oak Lawn teen has been in scouting since he joined the tiger cubs in first grade. Adam belongs to BSA Troop 1373 that meets at the Palos Hills Community Center.

The Eagle is scouting’s highest rank. Scouts must demonstrate service and leadership by earning 23 merit badges before their eighteenth birthday, including badges in community service, citizenship, lifesaving and outdoor skills. Some famous Eagle Scouts include astronaut Neil Armstrong, baseball great Hank Aaron, President Gerald Ford, and documentarian Michael Moore.

“Scouting has taught me a lot of skills and to see stuff from a different perspective,” Adam said. “You can have a phone or game console, but you can also appreciate nature.”

Adam will be collecting face masks, hand sanitizer, travel-size toothbrush/paste, Gold Bond lotion, cough drops, tissue, travel Advil, Emergen C drops, socks, gloves, hats, chapstick, bottle water. He hopes to finish assembling the care packages by the end of the month to present them to Almost Home Chicago Inc.

People need not get out of their vehicles when dropping off items on Saturday. Adam, his fellow scouts and cousin will run out and grab donations.

“Now that I actually have it off the ground and the dates set, its started to become a reality,” he said. “With COVID-19, I wanted it to be contact free.”

Once his service project is complete, Adam must fill out an extensive amount of paperwork and submit it to the BSA board of review. For more information about the collection drive, email Adam at adamschrode1373@gmail.com