Friedens church food pantry has a new 'home' thanks to Eagle Scout project

FRIEDENS ― The Friedens Lutheran Church food pantry has a new look thanks to the efforts of a local Eagles Scout.

Connor Harrity, a member of the Friedens Troop 5152, with the help of his fellow Boy Scouts and peers, built two wooden weatherproof cabinets with shelves and filled the two cabinets twice with donations of nonperishable and perishable items. All this helped him earn his Eagle Scout status.

Harrity did his board of review and passed on Nov. 2. He celebrated with a banquet on March 3.

Idea for the project

During COVID restrictions, Friedens Lutheran Church had tables under the carport to offer free perishable and non-perishable food items to those in need.

"Even though the donated items were outside under the carport, they were still out in all kinds of weather conditions," Harrity said in an email. "I approached the pastor of the church, Pastor John Barichivich, about the idea of building two wooden weatherproof cabinets with shelves for my Eagle Scout project.

Harrity said to get approval of the project, he had to go to a church meeting to meet with the board members and show them several designs of what he had in mind.

"Once we agreed on what design they liked, we could proceed with the build," he said.

Once the design and measurements were established, Harrity typed up letters and attached a drawing of what he was intending. He then went to local businesses and asked for donations of money or supplies.

"I was very fortunate, many area businesses offered supplies or money for my project," Harrity said.

Then the building work began

"With the help of my uncle, Scoutmaster, Cub Scoutmaster, fellow Scouts and their parents, we built the cabinets over a few Saturdays," he said. "Once the cabinets were b–uilt, stained and sealed, they were then hauled to the church and attached to the church under the carport.

"With any extra money that was given, I was able to fill the cabinets with non-perishable and perishable items for the community."

Harrity said during the process he was working on his Eagle Scout Project workbook.

"This goes hand in hand with your project ― you have to record everything that you do, supplies, hours worked, etc.," he said. "Once project and workbook is completed, your Scoutmaster has to sign off, then it goes to your local Scout office, then you have your board of review."

Harrity explained that once the board of review is completed, and the Scout gets a “pass” or “fail,” the pass means the applicant is then considered an Eagle Scout. The paperwork then gets submitted to the local Boy Scouts council to be signed off again and then it is sent to national chapter for a signature.

"As you can tell, there are many steps in the trail to Eagle," Harrity said.