By Hyung Seok LEE
CV Weekly Intern

Life Scout Austin Drake and Scouts from Troop 509 stood in front of Vons and Ralphs on May 8 to help feed the homeless on Skid Row. With already 700 pounds of food collected and another 700 pounds expected, Drake planned his Eagle Scout project to donate non-perishable foods to the Union Rescue Mission.
All Scouts across America must complete a community related service project in order to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout. Drake’s Eagle Scout project was a food drive for the members of Skid Row. On April 24, Drake and his fellow Scouts distributed 400 empty bags throughout the foothill community with a request they be filled with food donations. From 8 a.m. until noon on May 1, the filled bags were picked up. Last Saturday’s donations added to the products already collected.

“Hopefully all the food we collect will help the people less fortunate than us. Knowing that this drive helps families get their lives back together is good enough for me,” Drake said.
In addition to his participation in Scouts, Drake is an accomplished trumpet player for the Crescenta Valley High School jazz band. He hopes to earn his rank of Eagle by the end of this month just before his 18th birthday.