When Hope is Baked In: Andrew Hiltz’s Eagle Scout Project

Fairfield, CT - BSA Troop 90 of Greenfield Hill in Fairfield, CT is pleased to announce the latest Scout to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, Andrew Hiltz!
 
Troop 90 has been a chartered Troop of Scouts of America since 1938 and counts over 100 of its Scouts having achieved the rank of Eagle. The Troop is sponsored by Greenfield Hill Congregational Church and is part of the Pomperaug District, Connecticut Yankee Council. Fewer than six percent of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle, Scouting’s highest rank.
 
After much research, Andrew learned of an immediate need by Operation Hope. Operation Hope provides individuals and families the opportunity to experience transformative change. Their programs and services focus on eliminating hunger and homelessness and are designed to help people solve their crises and build stability in an environment in which compassion inspires dignity and hope. To that end, Operation Hope’s Food Pantry provides over 123,000 meals a year to neighbors in need. Each month the organization provides food to more than 200 families, including 100 children. The Pantry is almost completely stocked and run by generous and dedicated volunteers like Andrew, who learned a food drive and cooking project would help restock the Pantry. In addition to helping restock Operation Hope’s Pantry, Andrew offered to distribute frozen meals to their clients.
 
Operation Hope provided Andrew with guidelines and recipes. He decided on meatloaf and baked ziti as two food staples and then set off to secure the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church kitchen. An email call went out to recruit volunteers from BSA Troop 90. With the troops assembled, Andrew set up shifts by recipe and a clean-up team. In conjunction with a team of Scouts, Andrew led a shopping trip for all the ingredients. Once the kitchen was set up, the volunteers began showing up for shifts and cooking began.
 
All told, ten large pans of baked ziti and ten meatloaves were delivered to the freezers at Operation Hope. It was a full day of cooking and fellowship with about 20 Scouts and five adult volunteers. Thanks to the generosity of his fellow Scouts, Andrew was able to deliver several boxes of pantry items as well.
 
Andrew passed his Eagle Board of Review on January 3. He was part of Cub Scout Pack 401, run by his father and current Troop 90 Scoutmaster, Drew -- a Pack that has since produced five Troop 90 Eagles!
 
"Andrew was an exemplary Scout throughout his career," said Dave Walker, BSA Troop 90 Committee Chair, "capped off by a successful term as Senior Patrol Leader. Congratulations and well done!"
 
Andrew is now finishing up his freshman year at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO majoring in Biochemistry. He will celebrate his achievement with an Eagle Court of Honor later this year.
 
About BSA Troop 90
 
BSA Troop 90, sponsored by Greenfield Hill Congregational Church in Fairfield, Connecticut, is a leadership troop in The Connecticut Yankee Council, Pomperaug District. Troop 90 was founded in 1938. Since 1953, the Troop has produced over 100 Eagle Scouts, with an average of four new Eagle Scouts each year from 2007-2018. Troop 90 can be found on Facebook and the web. For more information please contact Scoutmaster Drew Hiltz at dhiltz2@gmail.com.
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Submitted by Fairfield, CT

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