Community Corner
Senior Center Gets New Shed Courtesy of Aspiring Eagle Scout
William Tennent freshman Justin Cammarota spent the past weekend managing the construction of a new shed at the Ben Wilson Senior Center.
When regular visitors to the Ben Wilson Senior Center arrived Monday morning, they would have seen something that was not there Friday afternoon. Behind the building sits a brand new, 12-foot-by-12-foot storage shed that was built over the weekend by a volunteer crew led by freshman Justin Cammarota.
The two-day project is part of Justin's quest for the presitigious Eagle Scout ranking from the Boy Scouts of America. Leading a service project is one of the requirements set by the organization to earn the title.
"They usually look at older people for the Eagle Scout ranking," said Justin, 14. "They want to make sure you have the maturity to lead. I figured, even if I was 17, I still wouldn't know how to do something like this, so I might as learn it now."
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Cammarota got the idea for the service project from his experience helping the in Ivyland with their annual Help Build Hope day, where he and a large group of volunteers would spend a day framing houses for Habitat for Humanity.
"I'm thrilled that he was inspired by our own event," said Bux-Mont pastor Phil Strunk, on site at the Ben Wilson Senior Center to help Cammarota's efforts. "He's a good scout and a real go-getter. I mean, here he is at age 14 going for the Eagle Scout. That's how determined he is."
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Warminster Township poured the concrete pad as a donation to the project, and Cammarota lobbied plenty of other private companies for more help, including Lowe's, Home Depot and Eco America.
"On Friday, somebody from the construction company building the new Giuseppe's came over with 50 two-by-fours," said Justin. "The response has been so helpful."
As project leader, it was up to Justin to get the donations and find volunteers to help him the actual labor. Judging by the turnout Saturday morning, his efforts were a complete success.
There were at least 15-20 people from various sources including his own troop 5, based out of in Churchville, his former troop 400, from Bux-Mont Christian Church, volunteer contractors form the area and even members from the Lincoln High School softball team, coached by Justin's father, Paul.
"Justin had to learn a lot about designing the shed, figuring out which materials he needed, how to get them," said Cammarota. "He wants to earn the Eagle Scout now, because he plans to take honor and AP classes in the next few years, and he won't have time then."
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