Medford Boy Scout Liam Langlan recently completed his Eagle Scout project: a Giving Box, now located at Patchogue Medford Youth & Community Services, on Bay Avenue in Patchogue.

For his project, Liam said, he wanted to address food instability.

“This project is important because it allows the community to help each other,” he said, noting that not only can people utilize the items in the box, but the community can help keep it full with donations. “The box gives access to community members to drop off or pick up items directly, on their own schedule.”

Having volunteered in the past with PMYCS during their annual pancake breakfast, Liam was excited to team up with the pantry.

“Liam was motivated to address food insecurity because it directly impacts someone close to him,” said his mother, Kathleen Langlan, of the project. “With this project, Liam is helping the Patchogue community, being an agent of change, and living the Scout Law. As a Scout mom, I couldn’t be more proud of him!”

Back in March, Liam led a group of his fellow scouts from Medford’s Troop 40 and friends to build the box, with his Uncle Mark Ranaldo’s supervision.

After the box was built, Liam’s Patchogue-Medford High School teachers, Mrs. Botta and Ms. Sbrocchi, agreed to let Liam run a donation drive in their classrooms. Liam’s classmates and teachers then donated food and toiletry items to help support the cause.

Liam and his younger sibling, Lou Langlan, also a scout in Troop 40, then helped to stock the donated food and supplies.

“I couldn’t have gotten this project done without the support from the adults and scouts in Troop 40, my uncle, my mom, my teachers, classmates, and the team at PMYCS,” Liam added. “It was definitely a team effort.”

Last month, Liam met with the director of PMYCS, Samantha Woods, to install the box and then deliver the donated items.

“It is so meaningful when the youth in the community find new and creative ways to give back to our neighbors and families in need,” said Wood, noting that the box will become a key part of PMYCS, which supports their mission of enhancing the quality of life of the local community. PMYCS runs an in-person food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over the last three months, she said, their food pantry has seen an increase of 600 clients, and their numbers continue to grow.

“Our food pantry currently serves over 1,600 families a month, and the giving box will provide our clients with autonomy when choosing their items,” she said. “We are so excited to see the positive impact this project will have on the community and to connect with those who choose to donate to the PMYCS giving box.”

The Giving Box will allow access to shelf-stable food and toiletry items outside of normal operating hours of the food pantry.

ABOUT LIAM

Liam is a Life Scout, working on his Eagle rank as a member of Troop 40 in Medford. Troop 40 is chartered by the Greater Patchogue Foundation and offers troops for both boys and girls. The troops meet on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. at Tremont Elementary.