HOWARD — A recent trip to visit his 99-year-old great-grandmother turned into a moment of inspiration for Ramsey McCarthy of Howard. That inspiration should now provide some holiday cheer for local senior citizens.
“She talked about her childhood and how she didn’t always have everything she wanted,” said McCarthy, 14, after hearing his great-grandmother talk about her life and how she and other seniors feel neglected today. “They (seniors) just want someone to visit them, have someone to talk to and maybe hold their hand. They really feel left out. And this caught my attention.”
McCarthy, a fifth-year member of Boy Scout Troop 344 of Howard, had been looking for a leadership service project to help him achieve Eagle Scout status. And what better way than to give of oneself and to share the message of love and cheer at Christmas.
A proposal was then made to the Boy Scout Council on a Stockings For Seniors project. The project would entail collecting a variety of items to stuff into Christmas stockings and delivering them to area senior citizens. The proposal was accepted, and this past summer McCarthy went to work. “I had to give up wrestling in school this year because it took up so much of my time,” said McCarthy. But he doesn’t really mind the sacrifice, knowing that others may be receiving a small blessing from his efforts.
