USA (MNN) — To obtain his Star Rank, Boy Scout Coleman
Jones needed to find a leadership service project–and he wanted to find something
that would help orphans.
So with the suggestion of his aunt, Jones decided to
collect items for the orphans of Ceracaif Orphanage in Guatemala through
Orphan Outreach. He then put together a picture box of some of the orphans so
his fellow scouts, Troop 72 in Dallas, Texas, could see who
they were helping.
When the Scout troop heard about these kids without families and the
love and support they knew, the troop enthusiastically agreed to bring in
donations. Because of Jones' diligence to the cause, the response was amazing. Toothbrushes,
t-shirts, shampoo and socks poured in, filling and overflowing three large boxes
over the next three troop meetings.
Additionally, the troop raised $500, and they did not
receive any service-hour credits for doing so but gave voluntarily and
anonymously. Now, most of the items are at the orphanage, supplying the kids
there with much-needed basics.
Through these donations, the troop also demonstrated the
love of Christ to kids their age an ocean away. In their actions,
they followed Paul's instructions to Timothy: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and
in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).
Organize your own collection drive by visiting the Orphan
Outreach Web site and impact other orphans and vulnerable children around the
world.
