Josh's Eagle Scout Project: School Supplies for Students

Hi, my name is Josh Bottomley, I am a life scout working toward Eagle. I became a Life Scout in the beginning of 2021. I have had many set-backs with previous Eagle projects, like when my shelving unit’s beneficiary sold the building right before we started, or when my trail sign’s beneficiary got into a legal battle with the county, terminating the project.

For this project, my idea originated from a trip to Mexico with Rio al Mar when I was very young. In Tijuana, while helping at a local church, we saw the poverty and hardships of the children and families in Mexico. I never forgot that. When I was thinking of possible projects, I reached out to Dan Williams, the head of Rio al Mar, and asked if the kids in Mexico could benefit from something like backpacks and school supplies. He thought it was a great idea. In the poor neighborhoods of Tijuana, backpacks and school supplies are scarce and unaffordable. Although pens, pencils, and notebooks seem like everyday items to us, they are hard to find in Mexico and make a huge difference in the lives of needy students. They are essential in the growth and continued education of school goers so they can stay in school and have the materials necessary to learn.

My plan is to put together 40 high quality backpacks with the following school supplies:

20 Pencils

6 Pens

2 Durable Erasers

3 Glue Sticks

A Pack of Colored Pencils

A Notebook

A Pencil Pouch

A Handwritten Note

A Pencil Sharpener

Depending on the quality of backpack we decide on, the cost ranges from $720 to $1050