Eagle Scout Project Protects Neighbors In Need

Severna Park High School senior Sean Gaffney vividly recalled a time when he visited the former Glen Burnie-based Emmaus Center (an organization committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness) in the winter when he met a homeless woman who slept in a tent. With nowhere else to go, she stayed in her tent during a harsh snowstorm. As the snow piled up, she constantly needed to brush off the top of her tent, which ultimately succumbed to the weight of the snow and caved in on her.

Gaffney never forgot that story, nor the woman in the tent. After a decade in scouting and working toward the rank of Eagle Scout, Gaffney knew he wanted his Eagle project to address the needs of his community’s most vulnerable people.

“My Uncle Ed (Jansen) and Aunt Trish (Gaffney) are weekly volunteers at Arundel House of Hope. They inspire me,” said Gaffney, who added he is surprised to know how many homeless people there are in Anne Arundel County. “I knew I wanted my Eagle Scout project to help homeless people in need of a place to sleep.”

After holding a tent drive looking for donations of new or gently used tents, and starting a GoFundMe page, Gaffney held his Scout project on December 8, where he and several others set up donated tents, inspected them for damage, made any necessary repairs, and cleaned and waterproofed larger tents to be donated to Arundel House of Hope.

“Sean spent time over the past few months supporting our unhoused neighbors with a project designed to create temporary shelter and help these disadvantaged members of our community find some stability,” said Jason Port, Gaffney’s Eagle Scout coach at Troop 450, based out of St. John the Evangelist Church in Severna Park. “Maryland has about 5,000 unhoused citizens on any given night, and this provided temporary shelter to about 25 of them.”

Through his Eagle Scout project, Gaffney donated tents that would enable disadvantaged community members to house their belongings and provide them shelter from the inclement weather.

Dawn Baskin, a community engagement associate with Arundel House of Hope, worked with Gaffney throughout the entirety of the project. Baskin was struck by Gaffney’s heartfelt proposal and compelling story of the homeless woman and her tent.

“These tents are invaluable,” Baskin said. “Our goal is to find shelter for everyone, so it’s great to know we have these tents available should someone need them.”

A troop leader for Troop 993 in Severna Park, Baskin added that being on the receiving end of an Eagle Scout project after she has assisted her Scouts through the process was a rewarding, full-circle feeling, and House of Hope looks forward to working with more Scouts in the future.

“I gained valuable leadership skills through this project,” Gaffney said, noting that an Eagle project requires several months of planning and documentation before the actual project can begin. “But I also got to volunteer with my friends through Scouting, and I got to make new friends.”

Gaffney is on track to earn his Eagle rank this spring. He’s the son of April and Mike Gaffney of Severna Park.