Eagle Scout Project Helps Hungry During Thanksgiving

Food donations from the Cathedral of the Incarnation's members From left to right: Frank Sikorski, Gregory Kinn, Archdeacon Bean, Gregory Wright, and Chris Lydon

Gregory Wright, a senior at Garden City High School, is an Eagle Scout candidate in Boy Scout Troop 55 which is sponsored by the Cathedral of the Incarnation. Gregory's Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, "Thanksgiving Meals for the Hungry," responded to the request of The Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN) for donations of Thanksgiving food items to be distributed to hungry Long Islanders. The INN is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that helps to address hunger and homelessness on Long Island.

Gregory's troop members collected food donations from their families and friends, customers of the local Stop & Shop, and members of the Cathedral of the Incarnation at Sunday Church Services and Church School. The troop members sorted the non-perishable food items for Thanksgiving meals that included boxes of stuffing, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cans of yams, corn, peas, green beans, gravy, soup, and cranberry sauce. After the donations were sorted, packaged, and labeled, they were brought to the pantry of the Mary Brennan INN in Hempstead. While at the Mary Brennan INN, which is the largest soup kitchen on Long Island, the scouts painted the walls and door of the dining area as well as the adjoining hallway.

From left to right: Genevieve Halka, Samantha LaRose, Alfred Russo, Chris Lydon, Zach LaRose, Gregory Wright, Scott LaRose, Alex Halka, and Casey Timmins

Under Gregory's effective leadership, his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project was a major success. The total amount of collected food was 1,750 pounds, of which 1,072 pounds were donated by the Cathedral members. Gregory would like to thank the Boy Scouts of Troop 55 and their families, Archdeacon Theodore Bean, Father Joseph Pae, Canon Musician Lawrence Tremsky, and the Cathedral of the Incarnation members, John Longo, Mike Mauro, and the Stop & Shop customers, Cynthia Sucich and Stephan Robinson from The Interfaith Nutrition Network, and his family and friends for their tremendous assistance with his project. When asked what his goals for his project were, Gregory said, "Thanksgiving is a holiday that encourages people to be grateful as they celebrate with their families and friends. My Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project was designed to fill the hearts of hungry people with hope and their stomachs with food generously donated by caring Long Islanders as well as to provide the guests of the Mary Brennan INN with a newly painted dining area and hallway."

Food donations brought to the Mary Brennan INN pantry From left to right front row: Scott LaRose, Zach LaRose, Danny Simmons, Gregory Wright, and Frank Sikorski From left to right back row: Chris Lydon, Joey Ewashkow, Victor Vaiana, and John Rudolph