A 14-year-old kid often can despise an older sibling. But for Matthew Stein, he hopes to become an Eagle Scout by showing gratitude for his big sister.
Stein, a freshman at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire and a member of Boy Scout Troop 79, is organizing a toy drive to benefit Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge.
The hospital is where his sister was born with a hole in her heart. She underwent surgery to repair the hole, saving her life before Stein was born, he said.
The hospital also likes to give new toys to young patients to try and comfort them during and after their hospital stay.
Stein said a sledding accident during a Boy Scout camping trip helped him understand his resiliency and motivated him to continue with the Boy Scouts. For his Eagle Scout project, Stein is now looking to collect at least 200 toys to replenish the supply at Advocate Children’s Hospital following the holidays.
Interested donors can contact him at [email protected].
Q: You’re collecting toys for today’s kids. What did you play with growing up?
A: I played with Planet Heroes and Power Rangers, Ben 10 and some stuff animals as well. With Planet Heroes, they were aliens, and they had a TV show that took place somewhere else in the universe. It was cool to see what other planets could be like.
Q: You’re scouting in high school and reaching for the Eagle Scout level. What makes you continue?
A: I’ve had fun camping experiences with people. My Boy Scout troop is like family to me. My first or second campout, we went luging and I didn’t think I’d be able to go down the luging track. When I did, I was happy. We walked back to the cabin, and some guys were riding saucers down the hill. I was going down the path we made, and I hit a rock, which made me hit a tree, and I couldn’t breathe right for like two minutes.
Q: You could have done anything for an Eagle Scout project. Why honor your sister and the hospital that treated her?
A: After the holidays, they get low on toys. If I was in the hospital and a lot younger, I would feel scared. If somebody gave me a toy, it would distract me and get my mind off of what was going on. They might not notice it at first, but it would take their mind off of the surgery.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
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