Local Scouts step up, collect donations for Airman's Attic

Neil Kendall, a Boy Scout with Troop 232 on Sheppard, makes room for more donated items Feb. 24. Neil, the son of 80th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. Jeffrey and Lori Kendall, organized a drive to collect various items from base housing areas for delivery to the Airman's Attic. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adrian McCandless)

Local Scouts step up, collect donations for Airman's Attic

Jared and Andrew Blakeman from Boy Scout Troop 232 and Alex Karabel from Cub Scout Pack 232, sort through some of the donated items gathered Feb. 24 during their Airman's Attic collection drive. The donations filled the lobby of the Airman and Family Readiness Flight's main lobby. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Isom)

Local Scouts step up, collect donations for Airman's Attic

Published Feb. 27, 2007
By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Isom
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Generation Y might be thought of as slackers, wasting away their time in front of television sets and video games.

They may have been saturated with the best that technology has to offer. Multi-tasking could consist of listening to music through their "pod" of choice while playing a video game, breaking occasionally to take a picture on their cell phone to download to their MySpace site.

However, the young men from Boy Scout Troop 232 are a great example of how this generation is not only aware of the needs of their local community, but is willing to do something about it.

The most recent project for Troop 232, headed up by Neil Kendall, a junior at Burkburnett High School, had a direct benefit for the Sheppard military community. The Scouts, with assistance from their parents and troop master David Patterson, collected donations from all of Sheppard's base housing areas as part of their Airman's Attic drive. Their hard work paid off with donations filling the Airman and Family Readiness Flight's main lobby.

The project did come with some challenges.

"The project has been in the works since October," Neil said. "The biggest challenge I had to undertake was all the rescheduling due to the bad weather. I had to change the date on each of the flyers by hand."

Neil said there were multiple goals for this project.

"I would like to get enough donations to fill up the room," he said. "When I visited, it was very sparse; only about one-quarter full."

Another goal, Neil said, was to help the younger Scouts acquire community service hours. His final goal was a personal one - to achieve the Boy Scouts highest rank.

"Eagle Scout is the highest rank and most honored position," said Neil, who has been in Scouting since the second grade.

"What's kept it interesting for me is the camping. There have been a lot of good ol' times sleeping under the stars, meeting new people, and the jamboree's, but yeah, mostly the camping."

Neil admitted his mom was also very involved with the project.

"I want to thank my mom. She helped me get through all my procrastination," Neil said.

The Airman's Attic, open to active duty members E-5 and below and their dependents, is located in Bldg. 962. The hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.