Eagle Scout project helps Kiwanis

The Kiwanis Food Bank will soon have a safe covered walkway thanks to a Sisters Boy Scout on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. Sisters High School junior Justin Dean chose a big project to earn his distinguished Eagle Scout badge.

Sisters residents needing help from the Food Bank during the winter had to wade through snow or mud. Kiwanis members themselves had to trudge along the unsafe path to hand people their food boxes. So Dean decided to build a covered concrete walkway for the Kiwanis building on Main Avenue.

Kiwanis President Tay Robertson said Kiwanis is so used to helping others, it was different to be on the receiving end of Dean’s help.

“He shows a lot of maturity and I think he’s learned a lot,” said Robertson.

Justin’s father said the leadership project his son chose was “monumental.” Justin needed to manage the project through bad weather, coordinate contractors, ask for donations of materials and work through the City of Sisters permit process.

“The skills he’s learned here, he can apply to almost any career,” added dad Michael Dean.

Justin Dean said he wanted his Scout project to be a “landmark” and couldn’t have done it without help from contractors like Kiwanis member Jerry Greco. Dean calls Greco’s concrete work a “big key factor” in getting the project together. Greco said he was impressed that the 16-year-old got contractors to do the work for free and on time.

“It’s hard enough to get guys to show up when you’re paying them,” joked Greco.

Justin said he considered donuts as bribes but ultimately thought that wasn’t necessary.

“I just hoped that the cause I was working on was motivation enough,” he said.

Eagle Scout is a distinguished award. Only about 4 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle Scout rank. Dean began the Scouts as a little boy and is now a member of Troop 188.

Dean has the walkway portion of his project done and is focusing on completing the roof over it. He hopes to finish the Kiwanis project by summer.