Pursuing Eagle Rank
Mason Macias, of Scout Troop 11, installed the church’s new Blessing Box just before Christmas in 2025. Located on the edge of the parking lot, on the 11th Street side in front of the Rock, the Blessing Box will function as a little free pantry, where anyone can take what they need and give what they can. The goal of this new ministry is to provide tangible blessings to unhoused, low-income, and food-insecure people.
Mason, who has participated in scouts since the 5th grade, approached church leadership with an idea to create the Blessing Box in pursuit of his Eagle Scout rank. To achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, one must be in a leadership position, have all required merit badges, and complete an act of service to the community. “My thought behind the Blessing Box came from the meal packaging we did in Cub Scouts. The hope I had was to create a central place for people to go and have something to rely on when they need it,” Mason said of his choice of Eagle Scout project.
It was a long road from conception to installation. Leadership first met with Mason and approved his project in the early spring of 2025, shortly after Scout Sunday at the church. Mason stated that the planning and design process was meticulous, thinking through every detail and how it could be improved, but the execution was the most challenging. “The time spent was demanding, and it was challenging to build. I struggled with the roofing the most because I was unsure how to do it. The original design had a flat roof, but I was recommended to change it, so I had to take the roofing off. Then I put the roofing on, and had to remove it again for paint, then the final time I put it back on right before installation at the church.”
During this time, the church staff eagerly awaited the installation of the Blessing Box. Office administrator Caitlin McNeely was so excited when she learned about Mason’s plan. “I immediately started looking up best practices for little free pantries and thinking about the best things to stock it with,” she said with a smile. “Within a few days of the Leadership Board approving Mason’s plan, I already had an Amazon wishlist of items to fill it with.”
After the Blessing Box was installed, Mason looked back on his time in the scouts, stressing how impactful scouting has been for him. It taught him how to lead, how to speak to others, and other skills that many young people don’t learn until they are in their early 20s. “I am thankful for the people I’ve met through scouting and the places I’ve been through scouting.” He maintained that he “would recommend that people have their kids join scouting because it helps them flourish.”
After graduation, Mason plans to work a summer job at Philmont in New Mexico, a high adventure camp with beautiful mountains, amazing views, and the place of his most memorable trips during his years with the scouts. He then plans to join the United States Air Force.
The church is thankful to Mason for his gift to us and our community! In the few months it has been up, it has already provided food and hygiene items to many of our neighbors in need. To help provide a steady flow of items to the Blessing Box, the church staff has set up a monthly subscription of groceries so that we can fill the box once every month. However, beyond that monthly fill, we’re relying on the generosity of church members.
Blessing Box Ministry
If you are interested in this ministry, please consider donating to the Blessing Box. Donations can be put directly into the Blessing Box, brought to the church office, or left in one of the donation bins found at the church entrances. We also have an Amazon Wishlist so you can send food items directly to the church.
When making donations, please consider the following best practices. One, remember that those using the Blessing Box may not have access to a stove, microwave, or can opener. Two, food is what’s needed most, especially cans with pull tabs like soup, Spaghetti-Os, and Vienna sausages. Three, hygiene items like deodorant, toothbrushes, and packs of wipes are also in high demand. Four, once the temperature starts to rise, avoid donating items that might melt or burst. Keeping these ideas in mind will help ensure the usefulness and longevity of the Blessing Box.
The future of the Blessing Box depends on us. Caitlin is hopeful that the ministry will thrive and maybe even grow, explaining that her “dream for the Blessing Box is that enough church members will be passionate about stocking it that there is always something in there for people who need it. And if another Eagle Scout is looking for a project, [she’d] love to have a Little Free Library right next to it!”