Eagle Scout Joe Salmons (front row left) with family and friends from the congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The process of becoming an Eagle Scout is one that requires much work, dedication, and passion for the organization. Each person planning to become an Eagle Scout must complete an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, in which they plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. These projects require multiple steps of approval including their scoutmaster, a troop committee, and the district itself.
For his project, Joe Salmons, a junior at T.C. Williams High School, paired up with Senior Services of Alexandria, and put together emergency preparedness kits to give out with the Meals on Wheels deliveries to seniors. The kits included towels, playing cards, flashlights and extra batteries, basic first aid kits, water, personal hygiene items, hand sanitizers and wipes, whistles, and emergency blankets (space blankets). Joe heard of Meals on Wheels through volunteer work in his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. With enthusiasm from SSA and approval from the board members, he began contacting people, asking them to donate funds and materials to his cause.
On Saturday, May 18, Joe, along with his family, friends, and 30 volunteers from his church, gathered to carry out the scheduled routes. They each received emergency aid kits which they spent the morning distributing to all those who needed them. Joe’s hard work and dedication to this project will not only help him to achieve his certification as an Eagle Scout, but also helped to better the Alexandria community as a whole. He demonstrated his innate care for all those around him and showed the community his leadership abilities where it counted most. Joe’s act of kindness serves as a reminder to all the clients of Meals on Wheels that they are being taken care of and that their needs are not forgotten in the minds of today’s youth. Every day, these clients will use this first aid kit and remember this, all due to the incredible actions of one young man.