Though it’s not Thanksgiving yet, I think that we can all agree that we are all grateful for what we have. Not everyone has supporting and loving families, or a roof above their head. And unfortunately, the pandemic has caused one of the worst job crisis since the Great Depression, with the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939 where 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half the country’s banks had failed. But, despite all of this, it’s not all doom and gloom for the majority of Americans. The United Food Bank has been a safe haven for millions of Americans, and this year, one of our seniors, Nicholas Rulffes, who is also a boy scout, has started a food drive at our school to help provide sustainable and fresh food for the people who are suffering during this time as his Eagle Scout project, which is the highest rank a boy scout can achieve. During these last two weeks of the quarter (Sept. 13-24) please bring in any canned or non-perishable foods and place it in your grade’s box. Food boxes are placed in the downstairs hallways of the C-building. The winning class with the most donations gets a free dress week during the week of Thanksgiving. Today, Nick has a few words for the Knights about the food drive and being a boy scout.

Q: What is your end goal for the food drive? What inspired you to start the food drive this year?

A: My end goal for this project is to help my community and supply United Food Bank with more food to give to the less fortunate. My inspiration to do this project was to feel like all of my work as a Boy Scout has paid off. Eagle Scout is the highest rank one can achieve, and this project is the last step in getting there.

Q: Are there other people involved in the food drive that we can contact if we need help with anything or have questions?

A: Eagle Scout projects are meant to be entirely directed by the scout himself, but I am, of course, working in collaboration with United Food Bank Mesa, which is in part directed by Melissa Forrestar.

Q: Have you done any other Eagle Scout projects like this where the school was involved? If so, what are they? If not, what other projects have you done during your time as an Eagle Scout?

A: A Boy Scout only directs one project in order to acquire the rank of Eagle Scout, but they can participate in other Scouts projects if they would like to. I have participated in others in which help was needed, like painting a much-needed new coat of paint on a wall at a church, and doing some landscaping work at Dobson High School.

Q: What is your idea of an ideal evening home alone?

A: Personally, my ideal night home alone is listening to Kanye and laying on my bed, relishing in the sheer poetic art that is his music, which you would be surprised at how easily it makes you start floating; its quite majestic.

Well, there you have it! Make sure to check out the food drive and donate if you can. It costs nothing and means a lot for someone else in need, plus, you get an entire week of free dress without needing to pay $2. Stay safe, Knights, and remember to strive for the impossible and be extraordinary!