By Renee Larr
Two Westfield Middle School students used their summer break to create a community kickball field for their Girl Scout Silver Award. Julia Lamb and Ellie Rinne belong to Troop 1505 and wanted to work together to complete the 50 hours needed to receive the award.
Lamb contacted Survivor alum Rupert Boneham to see if he could assist with the project.
“She thought of Rupert because she really likes him,” Rinne said.
Lamb’s persistent nature paid off.
“When I was little I would always watch Survivor with my grandpa, and there would always be commercials for Rupert’s Kids (Boneham’s charity). So, I looked it up. Eventually after leaving about four-to-five messages they picked up, and we scheduled a meeting,” Lamb said.
Boneham suggested the girls build a kickball field at Union Chapel Methodist Church where he works with the youth group. The girls contacted members of the community asking for donations.
“We went to Wal-Mart, and told them about what we were doing. They gave us a $50 gift card to buy spray paint to paint the scoreboard. Then we went to Dicks and asked for bases. They donated bases to us for the field,” Rinne said.
They received kickballs from Culver’s, topsoil donated by Tiffany’s Lawn and Garden Supply and money for the scoreboard from Fire Station 6 “A” Shift. In total, the girls raised approximately $500 in cash.
The project began in May and was finalized in July. The kickball field includes a scoreboard and grill for summer parties including one held recently to thank their sponsors. There will be weekly kickball games each summer on Tuesday mornings.
The girls feel proud of their hard work.
“I am very excited at how it turned out,” Lamb said.
They will receive their award once all the paperwork is finalized. For more, visit unionchapelindy.org.
