Western Springs teen’s Eagle Scout project collects books for literacy program
By Chuck Fieldman cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com November 7, 2011 10:48AM
Eagle Scout candidate Andrew Buinauskas, 15, of Western Springs moves boxes full of books into a van outside his home on Oct. 27. Buinauskas was able to collect 3,605 books from nine local drop off locations. | Michael Jarecki ~ for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 11, 2011 8:03AM
Andrew Buinauskas’s love of books made his Eagle Scout project a perfect fit.
The 15-year-old Western Springs resident had thought about a possible project of removing invasive species from the Morton Arboretum. But when his father found the website for the literacy organization, Open Books, Buinauskas knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Open Books is a nonprofit organization that operates a bookstore, provides community programs and mobilizes volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond.
Donated books are sold online and at the Open Books store, 213 W. Institute Place, Chicago. Book sales support the organization’s literacy programs for students throughout the area.
“I’m crazy into books, and I believe that every kid should grow up reading, so I thought this would be a great idea as a project for me,” Buinauskas said. “It was a way for me to get more books that would be out there for more people to read.”
Buinauskas’s project for Western Springs Boy Scout Troop 12 took place Sept. 9–30. He organized a book drive, with a goal of collecting 1,000 books for Open Books. He made arrangements at several area businesses to allow for people to drop off used books at those locations. His book drive ended with considerably more books than he had anticipated.
“My goal was for 1,000, but we got 3,605,” Buinauskas said. “It really surprised me, and it renewed my faith in the generosity of people in Western Springs and other nearby towns.”
Because he collected so many books, Open Books sent a truck to his family’s house to pick them up.
“It gives me a nice feeling to know that there are people out there reading the books I collected,” he said. “And I really liked being able to do something so close to home.”
Now that his Eagle Scout project has been completed, Buinauskas has a few final requirements to finish before earning his Eagle Scout designation. He hopes to be finished by mid-December.
Buinauskas first became involved in scouts as an 8-year-old Cub Scout while he was living in the Los Angeles area.
“My dad talked to me about Cub Scouts,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. I like spending time in nature, and I really like the camp outs.”
Buinauskas, a freshman at Fenwick High School, was uncertain about his scouting future when he and his family moved to Western Springs 4 to 5 years ago.
“I didn’t even know if they had a scouting organization in Western Springs,” he said. “I was glad there is something here, and I have continued to really enjoy being involved since I moved here.”
Buinauskas said he plans to continue his involvement in Boy Scouts after he receives his Eagle Scout designation.
“Once I get my Eagle Scout, I want to continue so I can help the younger scouts,” he said. “I had some Eagle Scouts help my when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that. Now, I want to do that for the younger scouts, too.”
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