EGHS senior collects 2,500 pounds of clothing for Wings

Parker Gardner, a senior at Elk Grove High School and Scout in Troop 95, Elk Grove Village, collected 2,500 pounds of clothes to donate to Wings as his Eagle Scout project.

To become an Eagle Scout, Scouts must plan and lead a service project that demonstrates leadership and benefits the community. Parker’s Troop 95 out of Cristus Victor Church in Elk Grove Village has eight scouts currently working on their Eagle projects. This is an unusually high number; in the past the troop had one or two scouts per year.

“We are so excited to see how far these scouts have grown from where they started to the young adults they have become,” Scoutmaster Katherine Davis said.

To collect this much clothing for Wings, scouts braved the frigid January temperatures and went door to door leaving flyers for Elk Grove Village residents. Residents then left bags and boxes of clothing on their front porches for scouts to come back around and collect.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our neighbors and so grateful that the community and scouts came together to contribute to his project,” Parker’s mother, Melissa Gardner, said.

Wings is a nonprofit that works to break the cycle of domestic violence. Clients of Wings will have the opportunity to choose clothing from this drive. What is not used for clients will be sold in Wings resale shops to provide fund that will be used to “provide housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence.” Parker chose Wings because of its strong reputation and mission.

“I am proud to help Wings, I hope people see this and know that there are people who care and there is a place to get help,” Gardner said.

Gardner hopes to complete his Eagle Scout rank in the next month. After high school he plans to enlist in the Navy.