Scout swaps cleanup for lifesaving donations
When it came time to come up with an idea for his Eagle Scout project, Nate Rix of Glen Ellyn Boy Scout Troop 41 wanted to think outside the box. It turns out that legislation passed in the Illinois General Assembly helped him do just that.
Nate is collecting carbon monoxide detectors and donations to provide them to needy families at St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Scout is upping the ante by combining the success of his Eagle project with something benefiting everyone - a cleaner Prairie Path, with a cleanup event scheduled for this weekend.
The two-day Prairie Path cleaning project is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The first day the crew will assemble at the parking lot of the Glen Ellyn Public Library, 400 Duane St., Glen Ellyn.
"Anyone in the community is welcome to join me, " Nate. said "If you could bring gloves, that would be great."
So he's hoping the clean up and collection of detectors will both gain community support. Since the legislation became effective January 2007, HB5284 requires every dwelling be equipped with at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of every bedroom. Nate wanted to be able to help needy families who might not be able to afford to comply with the legislation.
"If these families in need have these carbon monoxide detectors, it will be safer and they can live up to the law," added Nate.
Carbon monoxide detectors are useful in preventing poisoning, known as a silent killer that takes the lives of more than 500 people each year. It can be caused by malfunctioning appliances like furnaces and space heaters. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and undetectable by the human senses. Symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue and dizziness so it can be confused with other illnesses.
Carbon monoxide detectors can cost anywhere from $35-$60, and so far Nate has been able to collect 25 detectors from Kidde, a company that makes them, and a $200 gift card from Lowes, along with pledges from various individuals.
Nate, who will be a junior at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn this fall, is currently a Life Scout working to earn his Eagle Scout badge, which helps guide the young men on their path to leadership. Nate has been a Scout since kindergarten.
"I started as a Tiger cub," he said. "My mother was a den leader."
He has enjoyed all scouting activities, but among his favorite activities are the High Adventure outings. Last month he traveled to Colorado.
"I hiked my heart out," he said.
Nate has spent the last several weeks pounding the local pavement garnering support for his project. He distributed fliers at the Glen Ellyn Cardboard Boat Regatta, and distributed the information in the business districts of Glen Ellyn, Wheaton and Glendale Heights.
In addition, he spent the last week going door to door collecting pledges and donations. To sweeten the deal, Nate has been promising that in return for pledges or donations he and a crew of his friends will clean up the Prairie Path as a goodwill gesture.
For more information or to with donations for carbon monoxide detectors or to help clean up the Prairie Path, call him at (630) 681-9155 or email him at aragorn94@comcast.net. Donations can be mailed to him at 2024 Glencoe St., Wheaton IL 60187.