With an unusual idea and help from unexpected places, Scott Coward, 15, was able to finish the required project for his Boy Scout Eagle award.

Scott, a member of Troop 522 at Ortega United Methodist Church, wanted to build a playground play hill at Methodist Children’s Village on Herlong Road. He put a note on Craigslist with the list of supplies needed, and then the calls started coming in.

Rick Renstrom, a total stranger on the other side of town whose son is an Eagle Scout, brought $200 to the church to cover the cost of the soil needed. Dave Commons, a father from Troop 2 at St. Mark’s, donated the slide. Patrick Sawyer, another troop dad, picked up a Bobcat bulldozer donated by David May.

Steve Stitt, a father in the troop from Kingsmen Construction, mentored Scott throughout the project and made three trips to Green Cove Springs with a dump trailer to pick up the tons of rock needed, during the holidays, in between working at his regular job. The rock was donated by Brian Beach of Walker Footings.

“This giving from others was the most inspirational part of the Eagle project for my son,” said Cheryl Coward, Scott’s mother. “And I know in the future my son will give back to others, because that’s what you do in Scouts.”

Altogether, there were 15 donations of cash and gift cards from stores, car dealers and a nursery.

Scott, who attends Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, and his mother live on the Westside. His Eagle ceremony will be held in March.

Source – Florida Times Union