Chicago teen leads school drive for migrant students: 'I wanted to do something meaningful'

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago-area teen has led a donation effort to help prepare migrant children for the school year.

Organizing a massive, back-to-school donation effort isn't normally the way many 16-year-olds spend their summer break. For Harrison Mellon, though, it was a no-brainer.

“I wanted to do something meaningful to me, not just something to check a box,” he said. “I figured this is something through the school I went to. I'm passionate about school.”

Harrison led the effort as part of an Eagle Scout Service Project. Parishioners and volunteers from his church — Immaculate Conception St. Joseph in Chicago — assembled 250 back-to-school kits to help migrant children living in Chicago shelters prepare for the start of school.

Volunteers also made welcome cards for each backpack and wished students a successful school year.

“It takes me back to when you were a kid and when you were getting ready and excited for the school year,” said one volunteer. “And it makes me feel fortunate and grateful that we never had to worry about getting school supplies.”

The backpacks will be delivered to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Madonna House and the city of Chicago for distribution to migrants.

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