Shriners Hospital Drive

Castro Valley High School senior, Luke Martin is working on the final steps toward earning the Boy Scouts of America’s highest rank, the Eagle Scout. The rank of Eagle Scout is recognized as a superior achievement. Only a few percent of all Scouts have the persistence and determination to get there.

For Luke, the journey to Eagle started when he was 7 years old. He moved up through the ranks of scouting and enjoyed the learning and the community service he was involved with. When he made the decision to work towards the Eagle Scout Rank, he knew in his head that it would take commitment and dedication, but in his heart he loved the idea of giving back. The final requirement for earning the Eagle is a service project that benefits the community. The scout designs, plans, fundraises, purchases materials and then carries out and gives leadership throughout the project.

Deciding who he wanted to benefit from his service project was an easy choice for Luke. He is going to collect items to support teenagers who are patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in Northern California. This project is very personal for Luke. As an infant, he became very sick from an infection that settled in his spine. The doctors at Shriners Hospital performed life-changing surgery on him. He continues to this day to have regular checkups with the Shriners doctors. For Luke, this project is not just for earning the Eagle, it’s a way for him to help teens, and to show his gratitude to the Shriners organization.

On January 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Luke will be in the parking lot of Castro Valley High School, 19501 Redwood Road. collecting items for both teenage boys and girls. Due to Shriners contamination policy they are asking for donated items that are new.

Some suggestions of donate-able items are slippers, pajamas, i-pods, ear buds, makeup kits, handheld electric games, pretty much anything a teenager can use to pass the time.

You can read about Luke, his project, and receive more suggestions for donations on Luke’s Shriners Drive website at https://cvshrinersdrive.weebly.com/