Rhett Warner, 16, didn’t let COVID stop him from trying to earn the title of Eagle Scout.

Only in 2018 did the Boy Scouts start accepting girls as Cub Scouts; older girls were admitted into the flagship scouting program in 2019. The Boy Scouts say about 6% of all scouts attain Eagle rank – roughly 2.5 million since the award’s creation in 1911, a year after the Boy Scouts of America was founded. “People recognize Eagle Scouts as individuals of the highest caliber, and for the first time, that title isn’t limited by gender." The celebration of the new Eagle Scouts comes at a challenging time for the Boy Scouts. The daughter, 18-year-old Rebecca Wright, is among the new Eagle Scouts, having earned 102 merit badges.

ANN ARBOR – Members of Boy Scout Troop 27 of St. Francis Parish helped the St. Francis Parish Food Drive break its single-day collection record on Saturday. According to event coordinator and Troop 27 alumnus Zach Damon, Troop 27 collected 591 bags and boxes of food and personal items -- enough to help over 100 local families. Members of the National Eagle Scout Association NESA Alumni of Michigan were also on site over the weekend. All year long, the church collects non-perishable foods from its members and from local residents. According to Washtenaw County’s food rescue program Food Gatherers, its 170 network partners have reported a 30-300% increase in community members seeking food assistance since the COVID-19 outbreak began in March.