Tinley Park Scout Aims for Eagle Rank Through Together We Cope Food Drive

Tim Funk is brown-bagging it big time this month.

The 17-year-old senior will distribute 500 brown paper
grocery bags in his neighborhood in early April, asking residents to fill them
with nonperishable food items for donation to in
Tinley Park. He and his family, friends and fellow Scouts will collect the food
on Saturday morning, April 21.

Tim, a member of Boy Scout Troop 442, chose the food drive as his Eagle Scout
project. He hopes to attain his Eagle rank by August. His collection area is the
neighborhood around Tinley Park’s downtown region off of Oak Park Avenue.

“I like the idea of a food drive for Together We Cope,” he said, “because it helps
people right here in my own community. I’m hoping I can make a difference for
some people who need help right now.”

In a letter attached to each of the grocery bags distributed, Tim asks people to
donate canned goods, especially fruit and vegetables. He notes that pasta and
spaghetti sauce, peanut butter and jelly, noodles and beans or tuna are
particularly helpful in equipping families with nutritious food.   

Carol Ettema, TWC’s food pantry director, said neighborhood food drives like the one Tim Funk is organizing are a major source of food for the agency. “It is so
refreshing to see young people like the Scouts get involved in helping their
neighbors,” she said. “It brings new energy to our agency.”

Together We Cope is a nonprofit organization based in Tinley Park that assists families in temporary crisis from 22 south suburban communities. Further information on its food pantry is available from Ettema at 708-633-5040.