Nick Anderson of Troop 9025 of the Crater Lake Council has brought together local businesses and scouts to create a vegetable garden for the Bethlehem Inn homeless shelter. The garden will allow the Bethlehem Inn to offer fresh produce to homeless residents as well as an opportunity for residents to volunteer to work in the garden.

The Eagle Scout badge is the highest achievement rank in the Boy Scouts of America and a scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Though Nick has yet to acquire all the badges available to a scout he has taken on the challenge of an Eagle Scout project at the young age of 15. Under the direction of Scoutmaster Russell Henning, Nick has spent several months designing the project in collaboration with staff of the Bethlehem Inn and has secured all the necessary building materials from local businesses.

Chris Clouart, Managing Director of the Bethlehem Inn, recognizes the great amount of dedication and work that have gone into the project. “Nick is a truly remarkable young man and I can't stress enough how important this project is to the Inn. This will allow us to supplement the resident's diet with fresh, nutritious produce and give the resident's a part in their own sustenance.”

Troop 9025 is sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Bend and is part of the Fremont District. The Bethlehem Inn is Central Oregon's largest homeless shelter offering emergency shelter to men, women and families.

Nick Anderson of Troop 9025 of the Crater Lake Council has brought together local businesses and scouts to create a vegetable garden for the Bethlehem Inn homeless shelter. The garden will allow the Bethlehem Inn to offer fresh produce to homeless residents as well as an opportunity for residents to volunteer to work in the garden.

The Eagle Scout badge is the highest achievement rank in the Boy Scouts of America and a scout must fulfill requirements in the areas of leadership, service, and outdoor skills. Though Nick has yet to acquire all the badges available to a scout he has taken on the challenge of an Eagle Scout project at the young age of 15. Under the direction of Scoutmaster Russell Henning, Nick has spent several months designing the project in collaboration with staff of the Bethlehem Inn and has secured all the necessary building materials from local businesses.

Chris Clouart, Managing Director of the Bethlehem Inn, recognizes the great amount of dedication and work that have gone into the project. “Nick is a truly remarkable young man and I can't stress enough how important this project is to the Inn. This will allow us to supplement the resident's diet with fresh, nutritious produce and give the resident's a part in their own sustenance.”

Troop 9025 is sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Bend and is part of the Fremont District. The Bethlehem Inn is Central Oregon's largest homeless shelter offering emergency shelter to men, women and families.

It takes a community to get things done at Bethlehem Inn. On June 12, 2010, the Inn erected a playground structure for the children of the families living there with the help of a half dozen local businesses and comunity groups.

The project started in late 2009 with the donation of the playground equipment by the Ronald McDonald House, which planned to remodel its existing playground. The Inn stored the equipment over the winter, waiting for good weather and help from others to install it.

Next came a group of Bend High School students, including Emily Carrick, Tim Frandsen, and Justin Coats. They were looking for a non-profit project to fund through the school's Community 101 grant program. They wrote a grant proposal and succeeded in obtaining $500 to build the base for the playground structure.

Then came Anthony Johnson, who was seeking a project to do to get his Eagle Scout badge. Anthony organized a group of about 40 volunteers, including Bishop Greg Garrick of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and many LDS members as well as fellow Boy Scouts, to help erect the equipment. Other participants included the local Home Depot, which gave us a discount on all purchases and sent a team of three store employees to help with the construction. Donations totaling over $1,000 from Wireless Northwest Inc., Doug Robbins Financial Solutions, Snow Endontics, Greg Garrick, Darin Hassell and Dr. Justin Hill were used to buy building supplies.

Matthew McFarland, owner of Hoodoo Mountain Resort and Troop Leader of Anthony's Boy Scout Troop #120/Crater Lake Council, arrived with a mobile grill and provided a fantastic BBQ lunch for all involved.

It was a great day for community involvement and thanks to everyone's hard work the children of Bethlehem Inn now have a safe and fun place to play.

It takes a community to get things done at Bethlehem Inn. On June 12, 2010, the Inn erected a playground structure for the children of the families living there with the help of a half dozen local businesses and comunity groups.

The project started in late 2009 with the donation of the playground equipment by the Ronald McDonald House, which planned to remodel its existing playground. The Inn stored the equipment over the winter, waiting for good weather and help from others to install it.

Next came a group of Bend High School students, including Emily Carrick, Tim Frandsen, and Justin Coats. They were looking for a non-profit project to fund through the school's Community 101 grant program. They wrote a grant proposal and succeeded in obtaining $500 to build the base for the playground structure.

Then came Anthony Johnson, who was seeking a project to do to get his Eagle Scout badge. Anthony organized a group of about 40 volunteers, including Bishop Greg Garrick of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and many LDS members as well as fellow Boy Scouts, to help erect the equipment. Other participants included the local Home Depot, which gave us a discount on all purchases and sent a team of three store employees to help with the construction. Donations totaling over $1,000 from Wireless Northwest Inc., Doug Robbins Financial Solutions, Snow Endontics, Greg Garrick, Darin Hassell and Dr. Justin Hill were used to buy building supplies.

Matthew McFarland, owner of Hoodoo Mountain Resort and Troop Leader of Anthony's Boy Scout Troop #120/Crater Lake Council, arrived with a mobile grill and provided a fantastic BBQ lunch for all involved.

It was a great day for community involvement and thanks to everyone's hard work the children of Bethlehem Inn now have a safe and fun place to play.