Scout gives sight to those in need
By Marjorie Stromberg, Sentinel reporter, mstromberg@lewistownsentinel.comArticle Photos
Diffenbaugh traveled from his home in Frederick, Md. to help collect 222 pairs of eyeglasses to donate to the Lions Club of Burnham and as a result, received an Eagle Scout Award on May 17 in Maryland.
Diffenbaugh said he got the idea to collect eyeglasses from his grandfather, Donald Baker, of Lewistown, who regularly collects them for donations to Lions Club International.
“He started collecting glasses for third-world countries,” Diffenbaugh said. “I basically wanted to help him out.”
Baker’s goal was to reach 50,000 pairs of eyeglasses, and Diffenbaugh decided he wanted to help his grandfather reach that goal by making it his Eagle Scout project.
He placed boxes at churches around town and began gathering eyeglasses for about two months, collecting the boxes every Sunday. His collection was given to the Lions Club International through the Lions Club of Burnham with the help of his grandfather, who took him to a Lions Club International collection site in Falls Church, Va.
At the Lions Club International building, the eyeglasses are cleaned, inspected, packaged, and distributed to more than 50 countries.
For Diffenbaugh, it meant a lot to actually see the volunteers behind the scenes at the collecting area, working long hours for free in order to aid the less fortunate.
“It (the project) helps out such a big organization,” he said.
He said he also was happy to have helped his grandfather do something that is important to him.
“It just felt really good knowing he reached that mark,” Diffenbaugh said.
Baker said he also feels good about his grandson’s accomplishment.
“Out of all the Bakers, this is, as far as I know, the first boy to receive an Eagle Scout Award,” Baker said.
“(He) worked really hard and he made it. His grandmother and I are really proud,” he said.
