When 17-year-old Tom Miller needed to create a service project for his Eagle Scout candidacy, he returned to Community Nurse Health Association, an all-volunteer organization offering health care to low income families where Miller volunteered during high school.

“Because of increasing health care costs, there are many families who can’t afford health care if it’s not free,” Miller said. “It’s a pretty big deal, and I wanted to help.”

After discussing the project with volunteer coordinator Harriet VerGowe, Miller decided to hold a book drive at St. Francis Xavier Grace Lutheran Church in La Grange. Miller spoke after every Mass, asking for donations. He also placed fliers in church bulletins and collection boxes within the church building. Miller accepted all genres of books, except reference or text books.

After four weeks, Miller had collected about 5,000 books, which he then sorted into categories and delivered to Community Nurses’ resale shop. Now, all proceeds from the books sold in the shop will be donated to the Community Nurse clinic.

Miller said collecting thousands of books was much easier than he anticipated.

“I was really surprised with how quickly everything started going,” Miller said.
Both church members and volunteers helped.

“The project taught me how nice people were,” Miller said. “I was receiving help from everyone; volunteers from Community Nurse and just people who wanted to help.”

Now, making a difference no longer seems as daunting.

“The experience taught me how a phone call can change everything,” Miller said. “It made me realize that a lot more could be done if someone just takes the time.”

Miller said he must wait to go before a review board before he becomes an Eagle Scout this fall. According to Boy Scouts of America, only 5 percent of Boy Scouts go on to become an Eagle Scout, a performance-based achievement and the highest rank in scouting.