August 11, 2009 

CORNING -- A Steuben County boy scout is helping another local organization with a project it couldn't have done its own.
     Mitchell Stull from Troop 79 in Gang Mills was volunteering at Red Cross blood drive when the executive director mentioned some work that needed to be done at the chapter house.  And, as they say, the rest is history.
     “I like helping the community and spending time with my friends,” said 13-year-old Stull.
     Stull is on target to become Troop 79’s first Eagle Scout.
     “I never thought I'd be able to get this far when I'm so young,” he said.
     He's got to do a lot to get his badge -- including community service.
     That's where the Greater Steuben Chapter of the Red Cross comes in.  Its second floor was messy and unsafe.  So Stull got to work finding materials and money to fix it.
     He only had to pay half, thanks to material donations from local companies.  And cash donations made up the gap.     
     Six months later, the Red Cross has brand new meeting room and shelves to organize the storage space.
     “I’m very honored, and very appreciative to the entire Stull family, especially Mitchell, for taking on an idea and really running with it,” said executive director Brian McConnell.
     Stull’s just happy to finally have the hard part behind him.
     “I helped the Red Cross, which is one of reasons why I wanted to become an Eagle Scout,” said Stull.
     A Board of Review later this month will decide if Stull makes Eagle Scout.

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