- Photo 1: Tyler Rodriguez
- Photo 2: Daniel Hardy
LIBERTY, N.C.––The Rev. Eugene Dean, pastor of First United Methodist Church, presented Good Samaritan Awards (the top youth award of the General Commission on United Methodist Men) to Tyler Rodriguez and Daniel Hardy for providing Christmas presents for poor children in the Liberty area.
The boys worked with the guidance counselor of Liberty Elementary School to determine the needs of the children, and they placed flyers in local churches and businesses announcing the project.
The Star Scouts also served senior citizens at Liberty Village Apartments by cleaning windows, repairing porches, cleaning gutters, and trimming shrubbery. They also painted, cleaned and planted flowers for a Habitat House
The boys participate in a “Scouting for Food” drive each February, and they sort toys and stock the food pantry of the Community Bargain Shop. On Sundays they serve the church as ushers and greeters, and they have both worked with Pastor Dan to receive God and Country Awards.
The Good Samaritan Award was created by United Methodist Men to honor young people from 12 to 21 who demonstrate the attributes of the Good Samaritan described in Luke 10:25-37. Recipients must be a United Methodist or registered with a youth-serving agency related to a United Methodist Church and they must be nominated by adults familiar with the youth’s service.
For information, contact Marc Stowe at the Office of Civic Youth-Serving Agencies/Scouting, General Commission on United Methodist Men, P.O. Box 340006, Nashville, TN 37203-0006 (MStowe@gcumm.org) (615-620-7262).
For information about the boys, contact the Rev. Eugene Dean Jr., pastor of Liberty First at 336-622-4682 (church), 336-622-4516 (home) or 336-403-5087 (cell).
The Rev. J. Richard Peck
Director of Communicatons
General Commission on United Methodist Men
RPeck@gcumm.org
Phone: 615-620-7264 cell: 615-516-4237