Where does a healthy lifestyle begin? Many say it starts with finding the right nutrients to fuel your body.
Ninth grader Jack Wilson would have to agree. As a Life Scout in Troop 730 of St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, Jack decided to tackle this issue head-on for his ambitious Eagle Project.
“My project will benefit the Parkland Philanthropy Garden which provides fresh produce for the community at the Southeast Dallas Health Center. The fresh produce is distributed to patients and their households” Jack explains on his GoFundMe page created to fund the project.
Although he was initially unsure of his project’s direction, Jack’s mom suggested he research Parkland’s garden. After visiting the Food As Real Medicine FARM Garden for himself, Jack soon realized where he wanted to focus on his efforts. While it would be a massive undertaking, Jack saw that improving the conditions of the garden could help Parkland’s mission to advance the quality of life of Dallas County residents.
Jack says he believes that “Parkland gives great healthcare, but having fresh produce adds another level of care. Instead of just relying on processed food, they have access to produce which makes them happier and puts them in a better mood.”
Improving the garden was no small feat. Jack organized the work into three phases over several days. The main objectives of the project were to revitalize and clean up the site, build a ramp for the entrance to the shed, and find a way to provide shade for the main area of the garden so the plants could survive the Texas heat.
Lots of support was needed for a project of this scale, and Jack was lucky enough to have his dad, uncle, and grandpa on board to assist him with the logistics. Additionally, 23 of his fellow scouts came out to volunteer and get the job done.
Aside from his boots-on-the-ground team, people across the community came together to offer their monetary support. To fund the garden renovations, Jack sent fundraising letters to Eagle Scouts in Dallas and other affiliated groups. In just a few weeks, he far exceeded his goal of $1,000 and raised over $2,000. With the additional funds, Jack was able to provide meals and water for his volunteers as well as extra materials for the garden.
Jack notes that the final results were “better than expected,” as his troop was able to overcome challenges by working collaboratively.
“Its one scout’s idea, but you need the whole troop to make it come true. Doing three pretty big things across the garden, it was executed really well in a timely matter, and everyone had fun doing it.”
Jack notes that the experience of giving back is “very fulfilling” and “there’s such a wide variety of things to donate to and so many people you can help.”
Parkland looks forward to working with other young leaders like Jack who bring the community together to build a healthier future for all in Dallas County.