When Andrew Cucci contemplated ideas for his Eagle Scout project, only one came to mind. Knowing the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley is always short volunteers, Cucci decided to lend a hand by helping to sort and pack food.
“It will help more people than just the one beneficiary,” said Cucci, a Boy Scout with Troop 118.
In January, the Cornwall High School sophomore presented his idea to his scoutmaster and then to the Food Bank director. Once the project received approval locally, he had to make a presentation to the Boy Scout district council. Cucci said he was nervous speaking before the committee, but his proposal received the green light.
Only one change was made to the original plan. It was suggested, by the Food Bank, that Cucci construct a cubby unit so volunteers have a place to store their personal belongings.
With material donations from Home Depot, and monetary contributions from friends and relatives to purchase additional materials, Cucci constructed 40 one-foot cubbies measuring eight feet long and five feet high.
Cucci began working at the Food Bank the last weekend in February. He employed 65 volunteers, made up of fellow scouts, family members, and friends to assist.
The goal was to sort 47,500 pounds of food and only 3,500 pounds remain. Cucci chose that figure because that’s how much it takes to fill a 50-foot tractor trailer.
Cucci and his crew learned how to inspect food and put aside anything that had expired or had open packaging. As boxes were filled, Cucci would record the weight.
He and his volunteers averaged about 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of food a day, taking between three and four hours to complete. Cucci estimates he’ll finish his project in one day, but scheduled two just to be on the safe side. He expects to be finished by the end of the month.
Although, before starting his project, Cucci had never volunteered at the Food Bank, he said he plans to volunteer at least once a week when his project is complete.
