SERVICE PROJECT TAKES OFF

By ELISE FRANCO

Canfield Eagle Scout sends packages to troops

The teen has been working since May to get 100 care packages ready to send to soldiers.

CANFIELD — When Ryan Blaney started his Eagle Scout project, he was unsure about the reception he’d get from the community.

Three months and almost $3,000 later, he’s confident his project was a success.

Blaney, 17, of Canfield, has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for eight years. In that time, he has been working hard toward the coveted title of Eagle Scout.

“It’s a national project to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout,” Blaney said. “You also have to have 21 merit badges, have to spend a certain amount of time in a leadership position, and one of the biggest factors is, you have to do a project to help the community.”

He decided to make care packages for members of the United States military.

Filled with goodies such as foot powder, socks, phone cards, snacks and Sudoku puzzles, the care packages will be delivered to soldiers in the 237th Forward Support Battalions and 583rd Military Police Detachment of the Army National Guard out of Austintown.

“I wanted to do something that would help a lot of people,” Blaney said. “I am a firm supporter of the military, so I decided to create care packages.”

He said one of the people who helped the most was Chuck Gibson, of Poland, who has two sons in the military.

“I’d meet with him, and he’d answer any questions and give me advice about what to put in the packages and who to contact,” Blaney said. “Without him, I don’t think the project would have gotten off the ground.”

He said he knew he’d never be able to accomplish the project without financial help and would have to raise money to afford the care packages.

In May, Blaney began giving speeches explaining the project to businesses such as Nemenz IGA and Farmer’s National Bank, as well as the Rotary Club of Canfield and the Kiwanis Club of Canfield.

“All the funds I received were donated from people and businesses in Canfield,” he said. “I was able to collect a little under $3,000, and I spent pretty much every dime that I made.”

Friday, just before 5 p.m., Blaney, a member of Troop 25 in Canfield, arrived at the Canfield Post Office on North Broad Street, followed by two members of the National Guard of Austintown, with more than 100 packages in tow.

Each box costs $10.95 to ship, a special rate for military packages, and totaled roughly $1,500.

All of the postage was paid for by John Manzoian, owner of J M Technologies in Canfield.

“He wanted to help the troops too, and when he heard I was doing this, it was just perfect in his eyes,” Blaney said. “He is paying for every box that’s being shipped.”

Manzoian said he heard about the project because he’s friends with the Blaney family, and he immediately wanted to know what he could do to help.

“I just asked them what they needed,” he said. “I think what he’s doing is great. We need to do whatever we can for the military, and hopefully others will keep this kind of thing going.”

After graduation, the Canfield High School senior said he wants to attend Bowling Green State University or Miami University of Ohio and major in computer science, and he plans to join an Air Force ROTC program.

He said he feels his experiences with the Boy Scouts will definitely help him in the future.

“Big business people realize this is a big deal, and it takes a long time to earn it,” Blaney said of the Eagle Scout rank. “Colleges look at this, too. It’s a huge award and a goal of almost any scout. It means you went all the way, committed yourself and you were able to do the thing not everyone was able to do.”

efranco@vindy.com