Boy Scouts of America

A Scout is Kind…to Neighbors In–Need  

Serving those most in–need is at the core of Scouting’s ideals.  We’ve always been there to help people when they need it most, and now is no exception.  Through large ways or small, you can make a real impact in someone’s life!  Here are a few ideas to get you started.  Get creative!  Make it your own, and make it count!  

Ideas to get you started… 

  • Do a chore for someone who cannot easily do it themselves:  mow a lawn, rake leaves, fix a mailbox, etc. 
  • Following COVID guidelines in your area, check in on an elderly neighbor 
  • Collect school supplies and backpacks and donate them to your local school 
  • Collect unused makeup to donate to domestic violence shelters in your area 
  • Organize a neighborhood food drive to benefit a local food bank 
  • Donate a portion or your weekly allowance to a homeless shelter 
  • Help your place of worship organize a resume-writing workshop 
  • Donate face coverings and hand sanitizer to homeless shelters in your area 
  • Organize a neighborhood pet food drive to donate to your local animal shelter 
  • Volunteer with a civic organization to help clean up after a summer storm

What is an appropriate project? 

As you are developing your ideas, please keep the following in mind: 

  • The service should adhere to and follow BSA standards and guidelines (i.e., Cub Scouts should not use power tools, YPT standards must be followed, etc.) 
  • The impact of any project should not benefit Scouting (i.e., trail maintenance at camp) 
  • Although Scouting should not directly benefit from the project, Scouting events can be launch points for serving the community (i.e., days of service as part of summer camp programming) 
  • You have flexibility to define what “service” is to you and identify topic areas that best resonate with you

Safety Guidance

Ask 

When in doubt, ask!  If you have questions about the appropriateness of a service project, talk with your unit leader.  Unit leadership will be able to provide guidance as needed. 

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.