Eagle Scout spreads his wings

Charles Savidge says fresh clothes and school materials — especially a new box of crayons — are what drive kids to do best. That’s why he’s spent the last three months coordinating bake sales and barbecues to raise money for colorful backpacks and school uniforms at Emma E. Booker Elementary as part of his Eagle Scout project for Troop 14.

His mother, Jenny Savidge, teaches kindergarten at Booker and informed her son of a shortage in school supplies.

The Out-of-Door Academy senior has since piled 150 backpacks into two giant cardboard boxes and packed 150 school uniforms into numerous plastic containers.

“I’ve grilled out at my dad's hardware stores — Longboat ACE Hardware and Holmes Beach Hardware — and talked with Walmart to collect the backpacks,” Savidge said. “I plan to have dress-down days at ODA, which also wants to pick up the project.”

Anyone who wishes to donate money or supplies may contact Savidge at [email protected].

Contact Loren Mayo at [email protected].