(Sylvie Belmond | CLAIR – Simi Valley, CA ) — At the March 27 meeting of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, Parker presented the purpose behind his Eagle project and the inspiration that makes it especially meaningful.
Parker, a senior at Santa Susana High School and a longtime Boy Scout, is putting his heart into a project to support American troops serving overseas. As part of his journey to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, he has launched a mission to personally fund, assemble, and ship 25 care packages filled with comfort items and essentials for deployed soldiers.
A member of Troop 605 in Simi Valley, Parker has been involved in Scouting for nearly seven years, plus three additional years as a Cub Scout. Throughout that time, he’s embraced the spirit of the program—from building outdoor skills to performing skits at summer camp.
“The best part of Scouting for me is the camaraderie of summer camps, performing silly skits and songs, and the memories I know I am making as I go,” Parker shared via email.
At the March 27 meeting of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, Parker presented the purpose behind his Eagle project and the inspiration that makes it especially meaningful.
“My goal is to personally fund, pack, and ship 25 care packages to overseas soldiers,” Parker told attendees. “Each one will have hygiene products, hard-to-find luxuries, and other small items that soldiers wouldn’t be able to get easily while they’re deployed. It’s just to give them a show of support.”
In addition to assembling the care packages, Parker is organizing a donation drive to help stock the pantry of For The Troops, a Simi Valley-based nonprofit that sends thousands of care packages annually to U.S. military personnel stationed around the globe. The organization was founded in 2005 by local volunteers and continues to rely on community donations to provide troops with toiletries, snacks, socks, letters from home, and other essentials that boost morale.
Monetary donations to Parker’s project will go directly toward purchasing items for the care packages and covering the cost of shipping them overseas. In-kind donations of goods are also welcome and help stretch the fundraising further.
Parker’s motivation for the project comes from a deeply personal place. It’s a tribute to his great-grandfather, Edwin P. Hadsell, a ski trooper in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division during World War II. The division trained in extreme winter conditions and played a key role in the Italian campaign in 1945.
“Over the summer, my family visited the Camp Hale Memorial in Colorado, where he trained,” Parker explained. “This project felt like a really good way to honor his legacy.”
To reach his goal, Parker has set a fundraising target of $1,300 and has already raised about half. At the Rotary meeting, club members voiced their support and encouraged community involvement.
See details on the flyer below to contribute to Parker’s project.
With strong community backing and a clear mission, Parker is well on his way to earning the highest rank in Scouting—and making a meaningful difference in the lives of deployed service members.
