Eagle Scouts Hold Blood Drive in Father's Honor

Silvano Zobele, who died of leukemia in June, 2006 is the father of Troop 1776 scouts and recent graduates John and Thomas Zobele. Since his death the troop has run this very special summer blood drive in order to help the area blood supply during a period of severe shortages.

On Thursday, the troop will hold the seventh annual Silvano Zobele Blood Drive at the in Hillsborough from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The church is located at 715 Amwell Road at the three-way stop.

This year’s blood drive is special because 2012 marks John and Thomas’ graduation from high school and their earning the Eagle award, the highest achievement in boy scouting. 

To become an Eagle, a scout must earn 21 or more merit badges, hold a troop leadership position, and finally conceive, plan and execute a community service project to be carried out by the troop.

John and Thomas both began scouting in first grade as Tiger Cubs in Cub Scout Pack 1776. Through troop activities and trips, as well as many hours of active participation, they earned nearly 60 merit badges between them. In memory of their father, John and Thomas spearheaded this annual Troop blood drive and established annual Troop participation in “Relay for Life,” the fund-raising walking event of the American Cancer Society. 

For his Eagle community service project, John focused on his former elementary school, in Hillsborough, where he unified the flagpole area in front of the school with the rest of the building's outdoor aesthetics and refurbished the school’s playground equipment to ensure safety. Thomas chose to focus his project on the needs of visitors to the Sensory Garden located in Ann Van Middlesworth Park in Hillsborough.  In order to make the entry to the gardens more accessible for persons with disabilities, he replaced the existing gravel path with a brick walkway. In addition, the project also planted a variety of perennials near the entrance. 

The Zobele family and Troop 1776 hopes  the public will respond by choosing to donate. Appointments may be made by calling Judy Zobele at 908-399-5144 or emailing judy.zobele@verizon.net. Appointments can also be made on the American Red Cross website www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. Walk-ins are also welcome. Platelet donations start at 2:30 p.m., and double whole blood  donation begins at 3 p.m.

Remember to bring some form of identification. Note that minors 16 years of age may donate with pre-signed parental permission. Parental permission forms can be found on pages 2 and 3 of this link:  http://www.redcrossblood.org/students/sixteen/pennjersey

Troop 1776 thanks members of the community for helping the troop with this important community service and for honoring Mr. Zobele’s memory by donating the gift of life!