Bartlett Scout delivers more than 3,000 items to Veterans with help from the community
Ethan Tidwell, a 14-year-old Life Scout in Bartlett Troop 227, completed his Eagle project with the help of many community members and extended Scout families.
Ethan worked with his benefactor Military Outreach USA to collect household items that veterans exiting homelessness could use as they moved to permanent affordable housing. Through this program, veterans are provided an apartment and bed and many arrive with only the clothes on their back and personal items they carried with them.
Ethan's project collected many of the things we take for granted, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, shower curtains, brooms and other things you would need for your first apartment.
Ethan lead a team of scouts and adult volunteers that hung door hangers in neighborhoods asking for donations and also collected donations outside Jewel in Bartlett. He picked up the donations that were set outside doors in neighborhoods and thanked everyone personally. He then assembled a team of 18 people to sort and count everything before it was boxed up for delivery. The support for his project was overwhelming!
Ethan delivered all of the items collected to Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital and was congratulated by Donald Donahue HUD VASH Clinical Manager along with his staff on May 30. Ethan's project will help many veterans settle into their new homes and through their transition period.
If you'd like more information about the Veterans Existing Homelessness program please visit Militaryoutreachusa.org.