Scout helping foster teens with Eagle project

Havre Boy Scout Ammon Lines is a few packed duffel bags away from having an Eagle Scout badge.

For his Eagle Scout project, Ammon says he has decided to assemble duffel bags for foster teenagers on their way to their new foster home.

The bags, he said, will be stuffed with toiletries, necessities and add-ons such as blankets and maybe some clothes.

The idea is personal, he said.

"We have friends who had foster kids and when they came into their homes they had nothing but a trash bag with barely any supplies ... so I took the idea of 'Why can't these kids be ready to go?'"

Teenagers are a little bit more needy, Lines said.

"They need a little more stuff, they're a little more aware of what they need and want," he said. "So you take this bag and you have it ready for them, and they can go to their homes prepared."

The first step of this project, which he said he aims to have packed and ready to go by early next year, is getting the money needed.

"I'm trying to get the funds and then purchase items to assemble duffel bags," he said.

People who would like to help can donate to Lines in an account at Bear Paw Credit Union.

Lines' father, David Lines, is on-board with his son's project.

"I think it's a neat project. I think it's obviously something the kids can use," he said. "When the foster kids are picked up they didn't have the basic necessities. So he thought it would be nice to build upon that idea - give them the essentials - throw a blanket in there, throw some personal items there, a little bag to take and go with their move."

He added that he is going to be helping his son get started on his fundraising, and when the time comes, some of the assembling.

Ammon Lines, who is still in high school, said he wants to be a lot of things once he enters adulthood, none of which he has settled on.

"I got a lot of stuff that I like," he said. "I like architecture, I like the arts, I like teaching, I like English. I play piano, percussion instruments, and I sing. I swim, do cross-country."