On Friday, a Helena-area Boy Scout spent the day helping a local nonprofit make some of its aging furniture as good as new.
17-year-old Nate Furlong, a Capital High senior and member of Troop 1206, is a candidate to become an Eagle Scout. As a service project, he decided to help the Center for Mental Health refurbish tables and chairs from their day treatment dining and recreation areas.
Nate’s father, Matt Furlong, sits on Lewis and Clark County’s Mental Health Local Advisory Council, and frequently works with the Center.
“He said the tables looked pretty bad,” said Nate. “I just happened to be looking for an Eagle project.”
Nate was joined by his scoutmaster, father, brother and sister, as well as some of the center’s clients who volunteered to help. The old clear finish on the furniture had broken down and become sticky to the touch, so they sanded them down, restained them and applied a new clear coat.
All together, they restored about 15 tables, with about four chairs or stools for each.
Leaders with the Center for Mental Health said they have been hit hard by state budget cuts over the last year, and that they’re grateful for Nate’s help.
Nate said the project was about community members coming together. He said Ace Hardware donated all the materials.
“They said, ‘Come back if you need more,’” he said.
He said he hopes his project will inspire others in Helena to find ways to give back.
“Even though it may seem like you can’t do something for your community, there is plenty of stuff you can do for your community,” he said. “You’ve just got to look deeper in the city streets.”
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