If you reside in Oak Lawn, there’s a chance that on Feb. 7 you discovered near your front door a large brown paper bag with a note attached asking for clothing and toiletry donations.
Joe Korpitz, a senior at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, kicked off his Eagle Scout service project by asking his community to open their hearts to assist the PADS homeless shelter organization, specifically for its location at Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ in Oak Lawn.
Korpitz and his fellow Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 586 distributed the bags and then returned to collect the donations on the following weekend.
Their troop is sponsored by Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, with David Strahorn as their Scoutmaster.
According to Pilgrim Faith PADS site manager Michael Montgomery, Korpitz and his crew on March 1 brought in more than 40 boxes of items for the homeless. Korpitz credits his whole troop, his parents and his friend Amin Tomaleih for his success. At PADS, volunteers Sue McKibbon, Tammy Stockover and Amy Figel were there to accept the donations and inventory the items.
Korpitz is pleased with the results of his project and would like to thank all who contributed. He said the most challenging part of the collection was “managing how everyone sorted the stuff because every room in my house was being used to sort items. My troop members helped me, including the dads.”
His proud parents are Christine and Gary Korpitz.
The rank of Eagle is the highest in Scouting. A final step in achieving it is to plan and lead a project positively impacting the community.
Why did Korpitz choose to assist PADS?
“The objective of PADS is not only to give shelter to homeless people, but to turn their lives around and give them a fresh start,” he said.
Korpitz has been in Scouting since he was a Tiger Cub while attending Kolmar School in Oak Lawn.
While he always has thought that scouting was “cool,” his peers haven’t always been in agreement.
“I’ve faced some heavy criticism and ridicule over the years but I’ve learned to not really care,” he said. “It’s their loss for not joining and experiencing nature at its best. I can honestly say that I have way more knowledge about the wilderness and how to survive in it than most people.”
To become an Eagle Scout, young men must complete all requirements prior to their 18th birthday.
“I am rushing for Eagle Scout because I’ve slacked off for two years during high school,” he said. “It was hard to manage school, football, wrestling, a strict workout plan and Scouting.”
Korpitz has until April 2 to complete his last two merit badges and to finalize the remaining requirements for the rank of Eagle. His hope is that he will be inducted in May with a ceremony at Mt. Zion Church.
He plans to attend St. Xavier University next school year. We wish him much success with his impressive plans.
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News from our neighbors
The Rev. Dennis Ziomek, pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn, is pleased to announce the success of the 48th Annual Mardi Gras Ministry Awards sponsored by the Association of Chicago Priests.
Ziomek is the association’s outgoing chair and current coordinating board member.
The fundraising event was held Feb. 8 at the Sacred Heart Church parish center in Palos Hills. Nearly 250 people attended. New Archdiocese of Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich delivered the opening invocation. The Association of Chicago Priests also had a special presentation in honor of Cardinal Francis George.
Among the Board Award recipients was the Oak Lawn-based Courage Program, a volunteer organization that advocates for pregnant young women and their families.
Reggie Sabadosa is a freelance columnist and can be emailed at [email protected].