For one young Boy Scout looking to find something worthy of an Eagle Scout project, he wanted to complete something that would matter more than just the refurbishment of a park bench of the construction of flowerbeds. Branden Ronchetti, 17, decided to make a difference in a needy families life and undertook an Eagle Scout project that impacted more than 100 families in Burlington County.
The Cherokee High School junior took it upon himself to gather supplies, volunteers, and donated his own time to cook and distribute meals to 132 needy families in Burlington County for his Eagle Scout project this past month.
“I basically started off by looking at other Eagle Scout projects and I saw that most of them thought about doing park bench projects, flower beds, stuff that people would be able to see,” he said. “I thought because I like camping trips, I like cooking, and I could help out somewhere where it would have more of a lasting impression throughout the year.”
Each Boy Scout looking to complete his Eagle Scout project must demonstrate leadership qualities and must finish a project that benefits an organization outside of the Boy Scout of America.
Only four percent of all Boy Scouts ever become Eagle Scouts, Ronchetti said, but he always knew that he would become an Eagle Scout ever since he was a small child.
“I got involved with scouts because a bunch of my friends were doing it when we were kids and I said, ‘hey mom how about I do it too.’” Ronchetti said. “I also had stories of my father becoming an Eagle Scout when I was younger and I told him that I wanted to be just like him when I got older.”
So Ronchetti visited the Interfaith Hospitality Network and gave two presentations to its congregation, asking for volunteers and donations for his project. He was able to organize $750 worth of food for his Eagle Scout plan, he said.
Along with the use of the kitchen facility at the Marlton United Methodist Church and a crew of 40 volunteers, Branden was able to provide 132 meals of broiled chicken in a Madeira wine sauce, rice pilaf, string beans almandine, a fresh tossed salad with dressing, beverages, and dessert for the Christian Caring Center and the Inter-Faith Hospitality Network’s needy families.
“The Christian Caring Center, in Pemberton, they have a soup hall where they bring the families in for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I went with my fellow Scouts and friends and we served the meals for lunch, and then I went to the Interfaith Hospitality Network and we donated meals to their families and children. They asked if myself and our Scouts wanted to eat dinner with them and we took them up on the offer.”
Ronchetti’s project was approved and he will receive his Eagle Scout ranking on Jan. 20.
He is a Junior Scout Master of Troop 14 of Marlton, the oldest Boy Scout troop in Evesham Township.
