HEDDY SOROUR
On Friday, July 4, Heritage House Museum warmly welcomed a thoughtful gift from the 2nd Smiths Falls Scouts — a handcrafted bench donated as part of a heartfelt community project.
Six dedicated members of the scout group spent months building and finishing four wooden benches and a picnic table as part of their journey to earn the prestigious North Star badge — one of the highest honours in scouting for their age group.
“To get that [badge], they have to do community service, they have to have earned five badges in the previous three years, and they have to come together and collaborate on a group project to help their community,” explained Jayson DeBernardi, Beaver Scouter and leader of the bench initiative.
Keenan Poirier and Finnick DeBernardi took the heavier back of the bench with Leonard McGee taking the front as they set about placing it in the spot they chose under a Willow Tree in the Heritage House garden. Heddy Sorour photo.
The scouts began brainstorming ideas back in January. After weighing several community-focused projects, they decided that building benches would offer a lasting benefit — a place for people to sit, rest, and enjoy their surroundings.
“We all thought of ideas, and then we picked some to do, and we chose the benches so people could sit down and rest,” shared eight-year-old Leonard McGee, one of the young scouts involved.
Once their plan was in place, the next challenge was funding. The group held a bake sale at the Independent Grocer on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend to raise money for materials. Their efforts paid off — and then some.
“While we were there, the folks at the Independent said they wanted one too, and they sponsored their own bench,” said Ken McGee, Leonard’s father and a scout leader.
In total, the boys built four benches, each finding a home in a meaningful location: one now sits peacefully in the shade of a willow tree at Heritage House, surrounded by gardens; another was donated to the Smiths Falls Fire Department; a third found its place at the local Presbyterian Church; and the fourth went to the Independent Grocer, who supported the project from the start.
Local leaders were quick to recognize the effort. Councillor Jay Brennan attended the ceremony at Heritage House to personally thank the scouts for their hard work and community spirit.
“This was the idea of the scouts group, and a great community initiative,” concluded Brennan.
