God's Gifts: Service project for the elderly
By TAVIA MALONE
Globe staff writer
Posted June 6, 2002

Holy Spirit Retirement Home in Sioux City has a pleasant new patio as a result of an Eagle Scout project completed by Chris Kulawic and his father Mitch. Lots of hard work and donations made this service project possible for the enjoyment of the staff and residents of the retirement home.

Chris will soon be a freshman at Heelan High School and he recently completed the eighth grade at Blessed Sacrament School. The Kulawics are members of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Sioux City and the two are involved in the parish's Boy Scout Troop 100, with Mitch serving as scout master.

The patio is located at the front of Holy Spirit Retirement Home, which used to be a grassy area. The addition was needed because, previously, residents and staff had only a limited amount of space in which to enjoy the outdoors. With the new patio, no one is in the way of the entrance and there is much more room to maneuver.

With the project nearly complete, the Kulawics have a lot to show for their efforts. The patio includes a large area for residents and staff to enjoy the outdoors, both shaded and in the sun. Plantings surround the cemented area on three sides, and bird feeders, bird baths and other decorative items are a part of the plan. The patio includes 900 square feet of cemented space, as well as a 900-square-foot garden area.

Chris also decided to do his Eagle Scout project at Holy Spirit because his two older brothers had completed their Eagle Scout service project at the retirement home.

Patrick Tomscha, administrator of Holy Spirit Retirement Home, helped the Kulawics decide on a project by giving them a list to pick from.

"They happened to choose the biggest project," he explained. "They thought it was something worthwhile doing."

"We felt that it would give something for people to enjoy outside," explained Mitch.

Planning of the project began last October, and with the addition of several benches to the patio, the service project will be complete. Chris and Mitch had 12 students helping with the project and six adults. At least 230 hours of service have been put into the construction of the patio and garden area.

The Kulawics were given a lot of support from the community and Holy Spirit Retirement Home. Chris received discounts from a greenhouse in Sioux City and from a company in Denison, from which the Kulawics purchased the outdoor furniture. In addition, Chris sent out around 800 letters to the families of residents of the retirement home.

"I asked for donations of money for the completion of the project," explained Chris. "I received about $5,300."

Since the estimated cost of the project was $5,300, the Kulawics were both pleased and surprised at the response. Total project cost ended up being about $5,500.

There are many benefits from the service project. Chris wrote in his Eagle Scout leadership service project workbook that the patio would increase social development for both the residents and staff.

"It will help with family interactions with residents," said Tomscha. "It gives them an opportunity to go outside and to secure some privacy and take their family member outside and enjoy the air, sounds and all of enjoyment people get out of nature."

"The project helped make Holy Spirit a nicer place to visit," said Chris.

The Eagle Scout project also helped work on Chris's leadership and organizational skills.

"Eagle Scout projects are not just to do work, they are to make things better somewhere, while, at the same time, to show their leadership abilities," explained Mitch.

Chris did all of the calling to determine the cost of the project and fundraising, as well as planning for the garden and patio space. He organized when to work at the retirement home and ended up finishing the project about three months ahead of time.

Serving the community and beautifying Siouxland are just a few of the ways that the Kulawics pass on God's gifts.