Troop 45 Member Helping Homeless Vets for Eagle Scout Project

When Christopher Gavin hear the statistic that there are an estimated 600 homeless veterans on Long Island today, he was a bit shocked.

“They have given us so much. What kind of country, or better yet, what kind of people would we be if we didn’t help them in their time of need?” the member of Boy Scout said Monday afternoon during the at . “As we remember the fallen today, I would like to tell you how we can help those who walk among us as we speak.”

The 17-year old senior had contacted VFW Commander Manny Grilo asking about possible ideas for his Eagle Scout project – a necessary requirement every scout must undertake in order to achieve the rank.

Gavin’s project aims to help about 150 homeless veterans through the making of care packages: shoebox size boxes containing toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving supplies and clean underwear and socks among other items. Gavin intends to make 75 packages for males and 75 for female. The packages will be distributed at an event for homeless veterans in July. He said that he is also accepting financial donations in order to help pay for the items inside the boxes and to contact Grillo for more information.

Currently the VFW hold two “stand downs” for homeless veterans in Nassau County, one in November and one in July – where the packages will be distributed – with over 200 coming asking for help, many who have just left the armed forces.

“Christopher came to me and asked me about a project and I told him about this,” Grilo said at the Memorial Day event. “They’re in hard times and we help them in any way we can.”