A North Carolina teen used his Eagle Scout project to save his local fire department. Will Wooten was on his way to reaching the highest rank in the Boy Scouts organization and all that stood between him and the goal was his service project.
It needed to be something that would make an impact in his community and when he found out the Heartsease Volunteer Fire Department was struggling, he decided to help. They were in desperate need of new turnout suits, the protective suits firefighters wear in the field.
Will started fundraising, with a car wash and selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts. His goal was to bring in $25-hundred, but he smashed that and raised over $22,000! That was enough for the department to buy new turnout suits for every firefighter on staff.
Fire Chief James Bowen says they’re grateful for the funds that have allowed them to keep doing what they do. “If you don’t have turnout gear, you can’t fight fires,” he explains. “And if we can’t fight fires, we can't do the job to protect and serve the community.”
(Image: Getty)