Community

Eagle Scout Project of the Month: Building a Better Future for San Antonio’s Children

The Boy Scouts of America Council is proud to announce June’s Eagle Scout Project of the Month. This month, two different, yet similar Eagle Scouts have been selected for their outstanding efforts in leading projects with a shared mission: providing beds for needy children in San Antonio. We are honored to recognize Emilio Edwards of Troop 163 in New Braunfels and Travis Ghormley of Troop 226 in Stone Oak for their dedication and hard work.

Emilio Edwards: A Community United

Sleep In Heavenly Peace – San Antonio Chapter estimates that more than 70,000 San Antonio children lack beds to sleep in every night. Inspired by his parents’ previous volunteer efforts with the organization, Emilio aimed to address the ever-pressing issue of child bedlessness himself. “I thought this project was a great way to work with the community to help raise funds to purchase materials and raise awareness about children without beds to sleep in.” Emilio and his team of 27 volunteers constructed 22 1/2 beds, 95 headboards, and collected 7 bed-in-a-bag sets, demonstrating the impact that one individual can make.

Travis Ghormley: Immediate Impact for Families in Need

Travis Ghormley partnered with First Baptist Church San Antonio (FBCSA) and the South Texas Alliance for Orphans (STAO) to build beds for families in need. His project specifically focused on kinship care families and those within the CPS system, addressing the urgent need for safe sleeping spaces for children. According to SATO, Bexar County faces significant child welfare challenges, including 21,897 cases where children need to be removed from their homes due to abuse. Providing beds for extended family members’ homes allows children to stay with their biological relatives rather than being placed in foster care, emergency shelters, or sometimes even with caseworkers. This initiative not only prevents family separation, but also reduces the strain on the city’s foster care system. “I chose this project because of the immediate impact it would have on the community and how urgent the need for beds was,” Travis explained.

Byron Pitts of FBCSA delivered the beds shortly after they were made. When Travis and his troopmates learned how quickly the beds they built were put into homes, they reconvened to construct more beds, even after Travis had earned his Eagle Scout rank. Reflecting on the need, Pitts stated, “We could build 1,000 bunk beds and never have enough. The need is so great that every church and every Scout troop could build beds, and we would still have a need.” To help address this ongoing demand, Travis is collaborating with these organizations by sharing the information he gathered during his Eagle Scout project planning and execution phases—specifically his notes and budget details—so that others may work together to meet the community’s need for beds.

The Importance of These Projects

Most people are unaware of this specific need in our community and are surprised by the number of children who often lack necessities such as a bed. Though Emilio and Travis may not have known about the other’s project, they approached the need to directly address urgent issues, providing much-needed beds for children of families in desperate situations.

Emilio’s and Travis’s projects exemplify the values of Scouting, demonstrating leadership, community service, and a commitment to helping others, embodying the true spirit of Scouting.

Stay tuned for more stories of exceptional Eagle Scout projects, and let these inspire you to make a difference in your community. Together, we can build a better future for all.