by David Flint
“He put his heart and soul into it – thought of everything – amazing – it restores your faith in humanity – great job!” These were some of the comments from the Elizabeth Freeman Center women’s shelter about Chris Muller’s Eagle Scout service project. Linda Strassell, Benefits Coordinator at the Pittsfield, MA, shelter was very enthusiastic in her praise of Muller and his project that provided care packages for the clients of the Center, many of whom arrive at the shelter battered, distraught and with only the clothes on their back and, more often than not, with one or more kids in tow.
Muller, a resident of Stephentown, is finishing up eight years in the Boy Scouts, Troop 525 of Sand Lake, and will soon be awarded the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. For his service project he had an idea that he wanted to do something for the needy and unfortunate among us. After brainstorming ideas with his Advisory Committee Chairman, Peter Wren, and with Dianne Mosher at Berlin High School, from where he recently graduated, he settled on the Elizabeth Freeman Center. Strassell said she advised him briefly about the Center and the situation and needs of the clients but Muller just took it from there and ran with it.
Muller quickly got his project approved by Troop leaders and set about organizing a team of donors and helpers to make up care packages for the shelter. A cheerfully decorated pillow case would be the container for the package and would include soap, towels, face cloths, shampoo, deodorant and other personal care items. Mindful of the children, he would include also a small toy. Each package would end up having about $50 worth of goods, not including the pillow case itself.
A letter explaining the project that Muller sent to his Troop was spread around the community and produced responses from people that Muller did not even know. He received donations of fabric, and, with other donations, he purchased more fabric and enlisted the aid of Mrs. Mosher and her Home & Career students to actually make up the pillow cases.
Always thinking, Muller saw to it that some of the pillow cases would be more appropriate for kids, some for boys and some for girls. All total, he had some 37 people helping out including his parents, family members, friends and at least 26 students at school. From nine donors on both sides of the state border he collected about $275 in cash, including a $100 check from the Stephentown Veterans. In addition he collected a huge supply of product donations from about 20 more donors.
With school cooperation, Muller scheduled a work party for one day after school for his volunteers at which about 30 pillow case care packages were filled and prepared for delivery.
Strassell said that at the Center they were “taken aback” with the “phenomenal job”
Muller had done with the packages. He had thought of everything. The beautiful pillow cases were filled with very useful items including lovely towel sets and lots of baby stuff including diapers in an assortment of sizes. She said the packages were well received by the clients who now would have at least something to call their own. Muller also provided a supply of left over items that didn’t fit in the packages. “We were overwhelmed,” Strassell said. “He has touched so many people and they will pay it forward.”