Michael Stasney is a home schooled, 8th grader, who loves to play football and hunt. He has been involved in Boy Scouts for most of his life and has achieved the rank of Life Scout.

The next step in his Scouting career is Eagle Scout which requires him to plan and execute a project that will benefit the community or others in some way. Stasney’s project will focus on the Pennies For Your Park II community build that will take place on April 12 through April 16, at Friendship Park.

Dawn Bechtel, the Volunteer Coordinator for the build says, “I was so touched and excited that one of our young people would take it upon himself to help with this project for our community!”

Stasney’s Project Description sheet states: “I would like to organize a Boy Scout work crew for the Pennies for Your Park Project II, to renovate Friendship Park on April 12 — April 16, 2011. I would like to plan and position each Boy Scout unit into work squadrons. I am willing to work with all squadrons each day of the project and to follow safety guidelines in order to keep the crew as safe as possible. Also, I am willing to attend all necessary committee meetings.”

Before proposing this project Stasney spoke with his mom, Kim and Houston Costolo, who is the Council Vice President for Strategic Planning for the Pine Burr Council.

All agreed it would be an excellent project and since officially taking on this task, he has hit the ground running with its execution.

“I have visited most troops in the County that are in Picayune and McNeill. I have already got it lined up and will picking up the last troop sign- in sheets next week.”

His mom, Kim Stasney, says, “We are very proud of Michael. We support him and think it will be great for the community.”

Stasney says, “I am looking forward to seeing the park completed for the community. Also, I am looking forward to seeing the organization at work.”

Bechtel says, “We like to challenge other groups to follow Michael’s example and come out to help this project. We need all areas of volunteers; but we need the most volunteers in construction.”

If you or your group would like to volunteer, call Dawn Bechtel at Resurrection Life Ministries at 601-798-4511 or e-mail dawn@rlministry.org.