Brian Schweinhart (12, MST) is holding a denim drive at Manual as part of his Eagle Scout service project. He is also holding the drive at Church of the Epiphany, Saint Bernadette Catholic Church and his neighborhood.
Manual students may donate the denim by placing it in any of the three donation boxes located at the main entrance, the bus drop-off entrance and the VA annex entrance. Key Club will give volunteer service hours to each member who donates denim.
The company Cotton Incorporated will receive the donated denim, at which point they will turn it into insulation for Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), an organization that builds houses in impoverished communities around the world.
“A lot of Eagle Scout projects usually involve building something or fixing up things,” Schweinhart said. “I wanted to steer away from that.”
According to Schweinhart, he got the idea for a denim drive after discovering a similar drive that the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment holds annually.
“It immediately caught my attention because it is something I had never seen done before,” Schweinhart said.
Eagle is the highest of the seven ranks in scouting. New Scouts start at Scout and move upwards through Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. According to the National Eagle Scout Association, approximately five percent of Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle.
Schweinhart is required to do a service project, like all Scouts wishing to obtain Eagle status. Other requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges, being active in the troop for at least six months after obtaining Life and demonstrating the principles of the Scout Oath and Law.
“It means so much when you get Eagle,” Schweinhart said. “Doors fly open and opportunities spring upon you from everywhere. I have gotten so much from scouting already, and many of my values have been developed from it. Eagle is a way to show that I can and have used those values to impact the community.”
The drive ends Sept. 19.
