2025 Eagle Scout Project of the Year: He packed 100,000 meals to feed Haitians

In 2010, a catastrophic earthquake rocked Haiti, causing billions of dollars in damage and leaving more than 220,000 people dead – with some estimates soaring to more than 300,000 dead. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

Among those pulled from the rubble was 2-year-old Jamesly Jesse.

He survived, but his family did not. For the next year, a makeshift hospital was his home.

Jamesly was later adopted and now lives in Moweaqua, Ill., where he’s been a part of Troop 85. For years, he has thought about his Eagle Scout project.

“I’ve always wanted to give something back to the people that helped me first,” Jamesly says. “I wanted to help the people who helped me and make a difference.”

His project included raising more than $35,400 – twice as much as his original goal – to spend on meals for the hospital in Milot, Haiti. Jamesly then organized, promoted and led an event that featured hundreds of volunteers packing 100,080 meals of rice, beans, dried vegetables and nutrients, all of which were shipped to Haiti.

For his exceptional efforts, Jamesly, 16, received the 2025 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.

The Adams awards, which include territorial winners and a national winner selected from one of those territorial winners, recognize outstanding Eagle projects completed by young people who earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2024. The national winner receives a $3,500 scholarship, which they can use for their future education or to attend a national or international Scouting event.

Out of the rubble

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jamesly was a toddler when the earthquake struck. The magnitude 7.0 quake decimated buildings, and for five days, Jamesly was buried under a pile of rubble. When he was finally rescued, he was flown to a hospital in Milot.

“With no family to take care of me, I was completely dependent on the people there,” Jamesly says.

In a matter of days, the hospital went from 72 beds to more than 400 as workers tended to the injured. The hospital workers weren’t the only ones to focus on Jamesly’s well-being; the community of Milot came together to make sure the young boy and the other patients were OK.

Mary Jesse met Jamesly while volunteering there and told her husband Nathan about him. A couple of years later, they adopted him. He adjusted to life in the U.S. and was soon registered in Cub Scouts.

Giving back

More than a decade after the devastating earthquake, problems persist in Haiti. Political unrest and tropical storms drive up the cost of food. This exacerbates the extreme food insecurity the country already faces.

The World Food Program USA ranks the country as one of the most food-insecure in the world, with nearly 5 million people facing severe hunger. Many of those people are children, nursing and pregnant women, and older citizens.

“I realize that providing meals does not fix all of the problems in Haiti, but it will meet the critical need for children,” Jamesly says. “They are wonderful people that have been hit with so much devastation and yet remain faithful and resilient.”

Jamesly learned that Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey runs and finances a Haitian hospital through its nonprofit Haiti Health Promise. The nonprofit hosts pack-a-thons around the country every year, where people can pack and send food that the hospital will distribute to those in need.

Packing meals

Jamesly decided to lead a two-part project: raising money to pay for the meals and organizing a pack-a-thon in Moweaqua. His initial goal was to raise $17,500, which would cover the cost of 50,000 meals.

He created a video to promote his project and made presentations to 10 different community organizations and churches, seeking donations and volunteers. He also organized a barbecue fundraiser at his school.

“This video proved very helpful to get the word out,” he says. “People were amazingly generous.”

He raised more than $35,400. With twice as many meals to pack, he’d need more volunteers. So he recruited helpers from school, youth groups and members of the community.

The packing event was set up in his school’s gymnasium, and more than 430 volunteers came to fill boxes with food. It was enough to fill a semitrailer.

“The packing event went great,” Jamesly says. “So many people were encouraging about the event and said they were glad to be a part of it.”

How to nominate an Eagle Scout for the Adams award

If you know an Eagle Scout whose project is worthy of consideration for the Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year award, please nominate them.

Find a nomination form, judging criteria and more information at this link.

Eagle Scout service projects may be submitted for award consideration by the Eagle Scout, their parents or any registered volunteer — with the Scout’s permission. To be eligible, nominations must be submitted to the Council NESA committee where the service project was completed no later than Jan. 31.

For example, an Eagle Scout who completed their board of review in 2023 must ensure their project is nominated by Jan. 31, 2024. Councils are then responsible for submitting the nomination materials to the National Eagle Scout Association by Feb. 28. For all details and requirements for submission, visit the Adams award page at nesa.org. 

Territorial winners

Let’s hear it for this year’s territorial Adams award winners too:

Territory 1

Kyle Hu, Aloha Council

Kyle and his helpers created a three-tier garden terrace for a heritage center.

Territory 3

Yousof Alsum, Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council

Yousof and his helpers built a classroom for a village in Tanzania.

Territory 4

Parker Schwickerath, Hawkeye Area Council

Parker and his helpers improved a flagpole and surrounding area for a local American Legion club.

Territory 5

Jamesly Jesse, Greater St. Louis Area Council

Jamesly and his helpers organized a food-packing event for a community in Haiti.

Territory 6

Madilynn Puetz, Three Harbors Council

Madilynn and her helpers built an outdoor chapel with a seating area.

Territory 7

Trevor Suggs, Capitol Area Council

Trevor and his helpers built an ash-scattering garden for a local cemetery.

Territory 8

Jonathan Eaton, Circle Ten Council

Jonathan and his helpers renovated a garden, including building raised beds, at a city park.

Territory 9

Cole Stine, Muskingum Valley Council

Cole and his helpers built a pavilion at a city park and renovated a parking lot and storage building.

Territory 10

Tyler Earp, Spirit of Adventure Council

Tyler and his helpers improved an outdoor classroom area at a local high school.

Territory 12

Bodey Richardson, Del-Mar-Va Council

Bodey and his helpers made a kayak launching dock for his city.

Territory 13

Logan Zdaniewicz, Northeastern Pennsylvania Council

Logan and his helpers built an outdoor community sports court for his city.

Territory 14

David Lin, Blue Grass Council

David and his helpers completed several projects and collected care packages for a boys’ home in Liberia.

Territory 15

William Blackman, Tuscarora Council

William and his helpers built a helicopter landing spot for a local fire department.

Territory 16

Claire Streeter, Central Florida Council

Claire and her helpers created and distributed seat belt covers for people with disabilities that featured a QR code with important information for first responders.