All Souls Church is getting a facelift this year, with much of the credit going to the work of parishioner and Boy Scout, Geoffrey Miank.
The outside patio of the Alhambra church has been falling into disrepair for sometime, and the 15-year-old Miank had been searching for a scouting project that would use his organizational --- not to mention construction --- skills.
Taking the reins, Miank --- working toward an Eagle Scout honor --- spoke at Masses earlier this year, outlining his quest and enlisting help from parishioners. In addition, he called labor companies for donations, contacted companies for supplies as well as other fundraising efforts.
"People have jumped on the project with him," says Miank's mother, Karen who explained that one parishioner a making a mosaic for the area, another one donated benches while another bought grass seed for the area. Patio walls were removed, turf stones laid and areas painted and rebuilt.
Parishioners have come by the work site offering donuts, sodas and water to the workers, many of whom are parishioners themselves. Youth groups and Boy Scout troops have also come down to work on the project.
If all goes well, the patio will have been completed early October --- about five months since work began back in May.
Karen hopes that the patio project may be the key for her son to receive his Eagle Scout honor. "He has to go before the national board of review and present the project," she says. If accepted, Miank could receive his honor next year. "The hopes are that we can have the ceremony out here in the patio." |