Doing a good turn
Bentz puts together program to honor fellow scoutBy DAWN THOMPSON, Messenger staff writer
HUMBOLDT - We're not always happy with the hand fate deals us.
Boy Scout Matthew Bentz, 15, of Humboldt, decided to deal his own hand, turning a tragedy into a living legacy with the "Dealing Out Good Turns" project.
Organized in honor of his fellow troop member Aaron Eilerts, a Scout who died in the tornado that hit the Little Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa on June 11, the project uses playing cards to encourage people to do good deeds.
"I just had all these cards and this idea just kind of popped," Bentz said. "It's just kind of a tribute to Aaron to keep good deeds going in the area."
Eilerts, 14, was known for his love of doing for others, Bentz said. Eilerts founded a project where he sewed individual pillowcases for children at Wright Medical Center, as well as other hospitals and clinics in central Iowa. He also helped at the senior center and assisted with bingo at the Rotary Ann Retirement Community in Eagle Grove.
Bentz distributed a deck of playing cards beginning June 15. How it works, he said, is the cardholder does one good deed, signs the card and passes it on. The card is passed to as many people as the number on the card, so if someone received a five of spades, the card would be passed to five people before being returned to Bentz. Once he has received all the cards, he is going to give them to Eilerts' parents.
"I get about one every day," Bentz said. "A lot of people write on the card what they did."
A number of the good deeds reported involved helping the elderly, he said, along with simple every day things such as mowing the lawn and helping parents with chores.
Cari Feldmann, Twin Lakes District Executive for Scouts in America, Mid-America Council, received the eight of clubs and performed her good deed for her boss before passing the card along. She said it was a privilege to take part in a project that not only exemplified the Scouting slogan of "do a good turn daily" but also demonstrated a loyalty to Eilerts.
" I hope all the cards get used and returned," Feldmann said, "and when they all get back to Aaron's parents, I hope it reassures for them the quality son they had. They may have only had him for 13 years, but they raised an incredible human being. This project confirms his legacy will live on."
People can still become involved, she said, even if they don't receive a playing card. They can just do a good deed while thinking of Eilerts. And it doesn't have to be a grand gesture to make a difference.
"Sometimes we think too hard about the act," Feldmann said. "Sometimes it can as simple as smiling at someone who doesn't look like they're having a good day."
Bentz was also caught in the tornado that took Eilerts' life, but Bentz emerged without injuries. Ethan Sande, another fellow troop member, was hospitalized a few days for injuries he sustained. The three boys were assisting with the Pahuk Pride Junior Leadership Training camp.
His experience at the camp and the Good Turn project have taught Bentz a bit of worldly wisdom he said he hopes others discover, too.
"We've got to be more loving to each other and the country," Bentz said. "We've got to help people out."
Contact Dawn Thompson at (515) 573-2141 or dthompson@messengernews.net
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Paladin
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07-28-08 10:02 PM
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These are wonderful kids.
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