Eagle Scout project provides families with holiday meals

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Because of the hard work of a Boy Scout with Troop 5 in Maplewood, 75 families were able to have a Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all the trimmings.

As part of his Eagle Scout community service project, 17-year-old Tajeer Robinson conducted a food drive and an online fundraising campaign to purchase the turkeys, which he and a few volunteers from Troop 5 delivered along with groceries on Saturday, Nov. 21, to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Maplewood.

“I just want people to have a good Thanksgiving,” Robinson said on his online Go Fund Me fundraising page. “Nobody deserves to go to bed hungry or not knowing where their next meal will be coming from.”

Robinson, who lives in East Orange and started Scouts in second grade as a Cub Scout, has been in Troop 5 Maplewood for several years. He said he is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community through his Eagle Scout project.

“I have been able to do things and go places that most kids don’t get to. I have made many friends and have been able to help others with service projects that we have done such as volunteering at the foodbank in Hillside,” Robinson wrote. “It is a great opportunity to help families in need so that they can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.”

According to Troop 5 Scoutmaster Roger Brauchli, “Tajeer has done an outstanding job putting together his Eagle Scout community service project. Thanks to his planning, leadership and organizational skills 75 families will enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Tajeer has exemplified all that Scouting stands for with this project.”

“Tajeer did a great job of articulating and addressing a serious issue: Too many people in our community cannot afford a Thanksgiving meal,” Assistant Scoutmaster David Berry said. “In this season of hope and promise, one would like to think that everyone would be able to share a turkey dinner with family and friends on Thanksgiving.”