The Boy Scouts of Troop 72 in Dallas, Texas, were busy collecting for orphans this spring, led by Coleman Jones, a 13-year-old scout with Down syndrome. And give they did: three big boxes piled high.

A Boy Scout for three years, Coleman coordinated the collection to meet his leadership service project requirement for Star Rank, a level just two ranks below the advanced Eagle Rank. Perhaps only one thing—spreading the joy of giving—was better than attaining Star. Coleman did both.  

When Coleman first began seeking ideas for his project, he asked his aunt, Amy Norton, if there was something his troop could do to help orphans. Norton, who works for Orphan Outreach, suggested collecting socks and toiletries to fill backpacks, which teams routinely give to children they meet on mission trips. After receiving the Scoutmaster’s go-ahead, Coleman was ready for action.

He put together a photo box so his fellow scouts could see faces of orphans—many, their age—and invited his Aunt Amy to speak to the troop. The scouts were all ears as she told them what it was like for kids living without the love and support of a biological family in Central America, Russia, and India.  Afterward, Coleman urged scouts to hit the stores and bring donations to the next three troop meetings.

“The donation box overflowed at each meeting,” says Lendy Jones, Coleman’s mom. “There was even a big 500-count box of mini tissue packets.” The overwhelming response was due partly to Coleman’s diligence in sending email reminders days before each meeting.

With his own money Coleman bought thank-you candy for donating scouts, who also raised $500 dollars cash. “The scouts did not receive any service-hour credits [needed to earn merit awards] for donating,” Lendy says. “Their giving was purely voluntary and anonymous.”

Most of the donated items have already made their way to Ceracaif Orphanage in Guatemala.

“Learning about Orphan Outreach was quite a growth opportunity for Coleman,” says Lendy, who received numerous emails from parents eager to learn more about Orphan Outreach.

“This project,” she adds, “touched hearts.”