Scouts brush up on community service

The Christian Science Society’s building in Valley Stream needed a little TLC. Boy Scout Thomas Ferrall decided to step up and help out.

On Oct. 19, Ferrall and about a dozen other scouts from Boy Scout Troop 109 spent the day painting the church at the corner of Hicks Street and Mineola Avenue. They painted the foundation, brick window sills, front steps and doors. In the coming weeks, Ferrall will also replace two signs that had been damaged.

Ferrall is spearheading this work for his required community service project to become an Eagle Scout. The 16-year-old is a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High school and has been in scouts for a decade. He started out with Cub Scout Pack 368, before moving on to Pack 109 and eventually Troop 109. In addition to this project, Ferrall says he has a few more merit badges to earn before he can become an Eagle, a rank earned by fewer than 5 percent of Boys who enter the scouts.

“I just think it’s a great program,” Ferrall said of the Boy Scouts. “It develops young kids into being great leaders.”

Ferrall has already earned the rank of Life Scout and is a senior patrol leader with Troop 109. He has been working on his community service project for several months. First, he met with representatives from the church to discuss the work that needed to be done. Then, he had to go out and raise money.

He received $100 from Home Depot and also got tax-exempt status for the supplies he purchased there. Ancona Pizza on Rockaway Avenue allowed him to set up a table in front of the business at the Valley Stream Community Fest so he could solicit donations. He also received a $400 bike from South Shore Bicycle and $500 worth of items from Rhino Chiropractic to raffle off.

In total, Ferrall needed to raise about $1,500, and to date has spent about $1,000 for all the painting supplies. He had to buy several colors — red for the doors, white for the steps, gray for the foundation, and black for the railings. Ferrall came armed that Saturday morning with 10 gallons of primer, 12 gallons of paint, rollers, brushes, blue tape, tarps and pans.

He also had to seek out volunteers from his troop to do the work. Ferrall, who has worked on the community service projects of several other Eagle Scouts, said he was thankful for the support. “I’m very grateful for that,” he said, “and it’s a nice feeling to know that they’re all here to help out.”

Barbara Myers, a member of the church’s Board of Directors, said she was really happy about the improvements the scouts made to the 57-year-old building. “I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “They’re just a wonderful group.”

Myers said the church has a small congregation and limited funds for renovations, so Ferrall and his fellow scouts are doing a great service to the Christian Science Society.

Ferrall said he hopes that his work helps make Valley Stream a little bit nicer. Once his project is complete, he will be near the end of his path to Eagle Scout. “It’s always been a major goal,” he said. “It’s within sight now.”