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We introduced solar cooking to the village of Jiquillo, Nicaragua and donated 100 cookers to the community.

Here are some photos of our workshop in the community. This is such a new idea to them and so very valuable!

Solar cooking is the simplest, safest, most convenient way to cook food without consuming fuels or heating up the kitchen. Many people choose to solar cook for these reasons. But for hundreds of millions of people around the world who cook over fires fueled by wood or dung, and who walk for miles to collect wood or spend much of their meager incomes on fuel, solar cooking is more than awomen carrying wood choice — it is a blessing. For millions of people who lack access to safe drinking water and become sick or die each year from preventable waterborne illnesses, solar water pasteurization is a life-saving skill. There are numerous reasons to cook the natural way — with the sun.

Benefits to:

households
health professionals
businesses
governments
humanitarian, development and relief organizations
environmental programs

Benefits to households

HEALTH AND NUTRITION
Moderate cooking temperatures in simple solar cookers help preserve nutrients.
Those who otherwise could not afford the fuel to do so can cook nutritious foods — such as legumes and many whole grains — that require hours of cooking.
At times many families must trade scarce food for cooking fuel. Solar cooking helps them to keep more food and improve their nutrition.smoky cooking fire
Smoky cooking fires irritate lungs and eyes and can cause diseases. Solar cookers are smoke-free.
Cooking fires are dangerous, especially for children, and can readily get out of control — causing damage to buildings, gardens, etc. Solar cookers are fire-free.
Millions of women routinely walk for miles to collect fuel wood for cooking. Burdensome fuel-gathering trips can cause injuries, and expose women to danger from animals and criminals. Solar cooking reduces these risks and burdens, and frees time for other activities.
With good sunlight, solar cookers can be used to cook food or pasteurize water during emergencies when other fuels and power sources may not be available.

ECONOMICS
Many poverty-stricken families worldwide spend 25% or more of their income on cooking fuel. Sunlight — solar cooker “fuel” — is free and abundant. Money saved can be used for food, education, health care, etc.
Solar cooker businesses can provide extra income. Opportunities include cooker manufacturing, sales and repair, as well as solar food businesses like restaurants and bakeries.

CONVENIENCE
At moderate solar cooking temperatures food doesn’t need to be stirred and won’t burn — food can simply be placed in a solar cooker and left to cook, unattended, for several hours while other activities are pursued. In the right circumstances it is possible to put a solar cooker out in the morning and return home in the late afternoon to a hot meal ready to eat.
Pots used for solar cooking are easy to clean — a fact especially valuable for women who must walk many kilometers to collect water.
Many solar cookers are portable, allowing for solar cooking at work sites or while pursuing outdoor activities like picnics, trekking or camping.

OTHER HOUSEHOLD USES FOR SOLAR COOKERS
solar canning
Heat water for household chores.
Preserve (“can”) tomatoes and fruits.
Sanitize dishes and utensils.
Kill insects in grains and other dry food staples.
… and many more!

ˆ
Benefits to health professionals

Many solar cookers can be used to disinfect dry medical supplies such as medical instruments, bandages and other cloth materials, as well as to heat compresses.
Indoor smoke from cooking fires leads to childhood pneumonia, responsible for over four million deaths per year. Solar cookers are smoke-free.
Preventable waterborne diseases are responsible for 80% of all illnesses and deaths in the developing world. Solar cookers can be used at the household level to pasteurize water and milk, making them safe to drink. A Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) can be used with a solar cooker (or traditional cooking apparatus) to determine whether water has been sufficiently heated to be safe to drink.

Solar Cooking Info :http://www.solarcookers.org/basics/why.html

The post Color My World & Solar Cooking appeared first on Color My World.

By SIMON RIOS
Union Leader Correspondent
August 13. 2012 10:21PM

Chase Hughes is surrounded by young residents of Bajo Tejares, San Ramon, Costa Rica. Hughes served a humanitarian mission in Costa Rica as part of his Eagle Scout project for Troop 388. (COURTESY)

BEDFORD — Not many Boy Scouts achieve the honor of being an Eagle Scout. When Chase Hughes traveled to San Ramon, Costa Rica, to deliver hygiene kits to a Mormon mission there, he was on his way to achieving that lifelong goal.

“I want to be remembered as a hard worker and a good student and citizen,” said Hughes, 15, who will celebrate his new rank at the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manchester on Sunday.

Hughes, who will enter Trinity High School as a freshman this fall, said his favorite part of being a Scout was learning preparedness, wilderness survival and first aid.

A member of Bedford Boy Scout Troop 388, Hughes earned 38 merit badges — though just 21 are required — in addition to his service project. An Eagle Scout must pass through the six ranks and serve six months in a troop leadership position before being approved by the Eagle Scout review board.

Hughes plans to attend the Boy Scout National Jamboree in West Virginia next year, and aspires to advance to senior patrol leader. “I will continue to earn merit badges because they teach you life skills and help you become fluent in many areas of life,” he wrote in an email.

Humanitarian work will be central to Hughes’ future, he said. In 2000, the Hughes family started Color My World, a Bedford nonprofit organization centered around helping young people get involved in service work. He plans to remain active with the group, and encourage his friends to do the same.

“The pinnacle of Scouting for me is not really being an Eagle Scout, but what you do with your life after as a result of the program,” he said. In addition, he wants to work in aeronautics.

For Hughes, the hardest experience in Scouting came in the form of the yearly Klondike Derby, a camping trip in the middle of winter in the woods.

“It takes a lot of effort and time,” he said. “You have to be mentally prepared because you are freezing and usually wet. I know now I could probably really survive in an emergency situation.”

Hughes’ Eagle Scout project consisted of collecting and packing 150 hygiene kits, which he delivered to Faithful Servants Mission in Bajo Tejares, San Ramon, Costa Rica. The town is populated by impoverished Nicaraguan immigrants, largely marginalized by Costa Rican society. He worked with various local organizations — from the Bedford Little League to the Bedford Women’s Club to the Mormon church.

In June 2011, he traveled to Costa Rica, where he enjoyed bonding with the children on the basketball court.

With the money left over from his fundraising, Hughes bought sports equipment for the children in Bajo Tejares.

The Eagle Scout is proud to share the designation with such figures as President Gerald Ford, Neil Armstrong, Steven Spielberg and former FBI Director William Sessions — just a few of the more than 2 million Eagle badge recipients since 1912.

“Now, I feel a little more responsibility to give to others and make a difference in the life of someone,” Hughes wrote, offering a bit of wisdom to younger Scouts. “Go on as many campouts as you can and learn all of the advance skills taught to you — most of all have fun.”

According to the Boy Scouts of America, in 2011, 51,473 Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout, or about 5 percent of Scouts.

Chase’s father, Brian Hughes, said he’s happy his son finished his Eagle early.

“We are encouraging him now to spend the next several years working on merit badges that will expose him to career opportunities, continue to work with his troop and develop leadership skills by working with younger Scouts.”

Hughes will be recognized in Court of Honor ceremonies on Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manchester.

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Mon May 2, 2011

Two New Hampshire students, Taylor Levesque, 17, of Manchester and Chase Hughes, 13, of Bedford, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon at the 16th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Taylor and Chase were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in New Hampshire last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

“The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees have seen problems in their communities and around the world and have taken action,” said Ms. Sarandon. “Their compassion to help others should give us all a lot of hope for the future.”

Taylor, a senior at Trinity High School, raises money to buy books, games, toys, crafts, and writing supplies that she then distributes in small tote bags to hospitalized children in New Hampshire and other states. Taylor was motivated by the miserable time she had in the hospital following heart surgery a few years ago. “I was sore, bored, and felt isolated from the world,” she said. “I knew how horrible my experience was, and I wanted to make sure no one else would ever have to go through something so awful again.” She got the chance when she was given an assignment in a theology class to positively influence someone else’s life.

After brainstorming with her family, Taylor began contacting hospital pediatric wards to see if they would accept gift bags for young patients. Then she set about raising funds by holding bake sales and selling crafts at church gatherings, sending solicitation letters to local businesses, and applying for grants. When enough money had been collected, she went shopping for pens, crayons, coloring books, stuffed animals, puzzles, storybooks, and other small items that might cheer up a sick child. After packing her gifts into 80 tote bags and delivering them to a local hospital, Taylor realized she couldn’t stop, so she took her project, called “Project Share a Smile,” outside of school and created a website to solicit donations. She has since made deliveries to five more hospitals, and recently delivered her 240th gift bag. “I love to make people happy and improve their situations,” said Taylor. “It gives me unparalleled satisfaction.”

Chase, a homeschooled seventh-grader, directed a project that collected, packaged and distributed more than 2,000 hygiene kits for victims of earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Chase is no stranger to volunteering. Since he was 4, he has been working with his family to provide humanitarian assistance to people around the world. Chase has helped send art and school supplies to needy children in Africa, raised money for local families in need, and prepared hygiene kits for victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

After the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Chase organized his family’s relief effort, setting an initial goal of 500 hygiene kits consisting of toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, soaps and combs. As word of the project spread through social networking and media coverage, organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs agreed to become partners, and schools, scout troops, businesses and individuals quickly embraced the cause, filling collection boxes all over New England and in other states as well. In the end, almost $17,000 worth of supplies were donated and shipped to the disaster areas in Haiti and Chile. Chase said his organization will continue to send help to the needy and not just during times of disaster. “It is a great thing to help pitch in and work for others,” he said.

“Taylor and Chase represent young Americans who have a strong sense of community and who are dedicated to improving our neighborhoods, our nation and our world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “With great anticipation, we look forward to their future achievements as they continue to spread the spirit of community.”

More than 29,000 young people participated in the 2011 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 16 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models.

“The young women and men in America’s schools are nothing short of amazing, and nowhere is this more evident than amongst this year’s award recipients,” said NASSP President Jana Frieler. “They possess a keen intellect, servant hearts, capable leadership skills, and are filled with energy and ambition. NASSP and Prudential are honored to recognize them.”

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

The post Two New Hampshire Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. appeared first on Color My World.

Mon May 2, 2011 2:01pm EDT
Academy Award-Winning Actress Susan Sarandon Pays Tribute to Young Heroes as Part of Four-Day Recognition Events
Two New Hampshire students, Taylor Levesque, 17, of Manchester and Chase Hughes, 13, of Bedford, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon at the 16th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Taylor and Chase were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in New Hampshire last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

“The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees have seen problems in their communities and around the world and have taken action,” said Ms. Sarandon. “Their compassion to help others should give us all a lot of hope for the future.”

Taylor, a senior at Trinity High School, raises money to buy books, games, toys, crafts, and writing supplies that she then distributes in small tote bags to hospitalized children in New Hampshire and other states. Taylor was motivated by the miserable time she had in the hospital following heart surgery a few years ago. “I was sore, bored, and felt isolated from the world,” she said. “I knew how horrible my experience was, and I wanted to make sure no one else would ever have to go through something so awful again.” She got the chance when she was given an assignment in a theology class to positively influence someone else’s life.

After brainstorming with her family, Taylor began contacting hospital pediatric wards to see if they would accept gift bags for young patients. Then she set about raising funds by holding bake sales and selling crafts at church gatherings, sending solicitation letters to local businesses, and applying for grants. When enough money had been collected, she went shopping for pens, crayons, coloring books, stuffed animals, puzzles, storybooks, and other small items that might cheer up a sick child. After packing her gifts into 80 tote bags and delivering them to a local hospital, Taylor realized she couldn’t stop, so she took her project, called “Project Share a Smile,” outside of school and created a website to solicit donations. She has since made deliveries to five more hospitals, and recently delivered her 240th gift bag. “I love to make people happy and improve their situations,” said Taylor. “It gives me unparalleled satisfaction.”

Chase, a homeschooled seventh-grader, directed a project that collected, packaged and distributed more than 2,000 hygiene kits for victims of earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Chase is no stranger to volunteering. Since he was 4, he has been working with his family to provide humanitarian assistance to people around the world. Chase has helped send art and school supplies to needy children in Africa, raised money for local families in need, and prepared hygiene kits for victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

After the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Chase organized his family’s relief effort, setting an initial goal of 500 hygiene kits consisting of toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, soaps and combs. As word of the project spread through social networking and media coverage, organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs agreed to become partners, and schools, scout troops, businesses and individuals quickly embraced the cause, filling collection boxes all over New England and in other states as well. In the end, almost $17,000 worth of supplies were donated and shipped to the disaster areas in Haiti and Chile. Chase said his organization will continue to send help to the needy and not just during times of disaster. “It is a great thing to help pitch in and work for others,” he said.

“Taylor and Chase represent young Americans who have a strong sense of community and who are dedicated to improving our neighborhoods, our nation and our world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “With great anticipation, we look forward to their future achievements as they continue to spread the spirit of community.”

More than 29,000 young people participated in the 2011 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 16 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models.

“The young women and men in America’s schools are nothing short of amazing, and nowhere is this more evident than amongst this year’s award recipients,” said NASSP President Jana Frieler. “They possess a keen intellect, servant hearts, capable leadership skills, and are filled with energy and ambition. NASSP and Prudential are honored to recognize them.”

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

The post Two New Hampshire Youth Honored for Volunteerism at National Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. appeared first on Color My World.

Two New Hampshire students, Taylor Levesque, 17, of Manchester and Chase Hughes, 13, of Bedford, were honored in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer work during the presentation of The 2011 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The two young people – along with 100 other top youth volunteers from across the country – received $1,000 awards as well as personal congratulations from Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon at the 16th annual award ceremony and gala dinner reception, held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Taylor and Chase were named the top high school and middle level youth volunteers in New Hampshire last February. In addition to their cash awards, they received engraved silver medallions and an all-expense-paid trip with their parents to Washington, D.C., for this week’s recognition events.

“The Prudential Spirit of Community honorees have seen problems in their communities and around the world and have taken action,” said Ms. Sarandon. “Their compassion to help others should give us all a lot of hope for the future.”

Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon congratulates Taylor Levesque, 17, of Manchester (center) and Chase Hughes, 13, of Bedford (right) on being named the top two youth volunteers in New Hampshire for 2011 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Taylor and Chase were honored at a ceremony Sunday night, May 1, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where they each received a $1,000 award to be used towards future projects.

Taylor, a senior at Trinity High School, raises money to buy books, games, toys, crafts, and writing supplies that she then distributes in small tote bags to hospitalized children in New Hampshire and other states. Taylor was motivated by the miserable time she had in the hospital following heart surgery a few years ago. “I was sore, bored, and felt isolated from the world,” she said. “I knew how horrible my experience was, and I wanted to make sure no one else would ever have to go through something so awful again.” She got the chance when she was given an assignment in a theology class to positively influence someone else’s life.

After brainstorming with her family, Taylor began contacting hospital pediatric wards to see if they would accept gift bags for young patients. Then she set about raising funds by holding bake sales and selling crafts at church gatherings, sending solicitation letters to local businesses, and applying for grants. When enough money had been collected, she went shopping for pens, crayons, coloring books, stuffed animals, puzzles, storybooks, and other small items that might cheer up a sick child. After packing her gifts into 80 tote bags and delivering them to a local hospital, Taylor realized she couldn’t stop, so she took her project, called “Project Share a Smile,” outside of school and created a website to solicit donations. She has since made deliveries to five more hospitals, and recently delivered her 240th gift bag. “I love to make people happy and improve their situations,” said Taylor. “It gives me unparalleled satisfaction.”

Chase, a homeschooled seventh-grader, directed a project that collected, packaged and distributed more than 2,000 hygiene kits for victims of earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Chase is no stranger to volunteering. Since he was 4, he has been working with his family to provide humanitarian assistance to people around the world. Chase has helped send art and school supplies to needy children in Africa, raised money for local families in need, and prepared hygiene kits for victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

After the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Chase organized his family’s relief effort, setting an initial goal of 500 hygiene kits consisting of toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, soaps and combs. As word of the project spread through social networking and media coverage, organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs agreed to become partners, and schools, scout troops, businesses and individuals quickly embraced the cause, filling collection boxes all over New England and in other states as well. In the end, almost $17,000 worth of supplies were donated and shipped to the disaster areas in Haiti and Chile. Chase said his organization will continue to send help to the needy and not just during times of disaster. “It is a great thing to help pitch in and work for others,” he said.

“Taylor and Chase represent young Americans who have a strong sense of community and who are dedicated to improving our neighborhoods, our nation and our world,” said John R. Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, Inc. “With great anticipation, we look forward to their future achievements as they continue to spread the spirit of community.”

More than 29,000 young people participated in the 2011 awards program last fall through schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of the Points of Light Institute’s HandsOn Network. The top middle level and high school applicants in each state were selected in February, and were flown to Washington this week with their parents for four days of special recognition events.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created 16 years ago by Prudential Financial to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models.

“The young women and men in America’s schools are nothing short of amazing, and nowhere is this more evident than amongst this year’s award recipients,” said NASSP President Jana Frieler. “They possess a keen intellect, servant hearts, capable leadership skills, and are filled with energy and ambition. NASSP and Prudential are honored to recognize them.”

More information about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and this year’s honorees can be found at http://spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

Originally appeared in the Union Leader

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By SAMANTHA ARROYO, Bedford Journal

Following the motto, “Search inward, look upward, reach outward,” the Hughes family of five has contributed thousands of school materials and hygiene kits to countries all across the world.

Last year, Chase directed a project that collected, packaged and distributed more than 2,000 hygiene kits for earthquake victims in Haiti and Chile.

And on Feb. 8, Chase was recognized for his efforts with a Prudential Spirit of Community Award, honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. He was one of two chosen from the state as top honorees.

“We made kits like toothbrushes and toothpaste and combs and soap to all send down to Haiti and Chile last year,” Chase Hughes said. “So people can have some supplies since their houses were wrecked.”

According to the seventh-grader, his goal was to collect and distribute 500 hygiene kits. But after an enormous response from the community, he was able to package more than 2,000.

“We just want to help others who don’t have as much as we do,” Chase said. “It’s important to help out.”

Though they did not fall victim to an earthquake, tsunami or hurricane, Angela Hughes and her three children have been at the forefront of first response emergency care.

Nearly 10 years ago, the family founded “Color My World: Kids Who Care,” in response to a scarce supply of educational materials in Africa. Soon thereafter, they began assisting relief efforts by providing hygiene kits.

“The kids basically run it,” said Angela Hughes. “They each have different projects that they work on and we give them some direction on how to do it and everything, but we expect them to pack everything.”

In February, when the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program, announced the top 102 youth volunteers for 2011, Chase had made the cut.

“I was just amazed at how we won the service project award and I was just, like, amazed,” Chase Hughes said.

As a state honoree, he will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip on April 30 to Washington, D.C., where he will join the other honorees for several days of national recognition events. Ten of the 102 will be named America’s top youth volunteers for 2011 at that time.

“These award recipients have proven that young people across America are critical to the future of our neighborhoods, our nation, and our world,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “Each and every one of these honorees deserves our respect and admiration, and we hope by shining a light on them, they will continue to serve as an example for others.”

The seventh-grader was nominated by the YMCA of Greater Manchester, the project’s greatest contributor. Due to bins set up at local organizations such as the YMCA, Chase was able to collect $17,000 in supplies.

According to Angela Hughes, a complete hygiene kit supplies enough products for a family of four. Therefore, the 2,000 hygiene kits were able to service 8,000 individuals. Each hygiene kit includes two unbreakable combs, four toothbrushes, one tube of toothpaste, two bars of soap and two hand towels.

“Hygiene kits have become very popular,” she said. “People felt really confident donating in these terms.”

In 2006, Hillary Hughes, 16, was recognized as a state honoree and went on to claim national recognition along with 10 other state honorees. These honorees received an additional $5,000 award, gold medallions, crystal trophies, and a $5,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation for nonprofit, charitable organizations of their choice.

“The Haiti (earthquake) ended up being such a huge disaster, but we were able to take that money from six years ago and apply it to make this project happen,” Angela Hughes said. “So the tsunami project helped the Haiti project.”

Angela Hughes hopes for similar results this time around so they can continue their humanitarian efforts.

“I am always really shocked when our foundation is recognized and blessed because it just continues on what we are doing,” she said. “There are over 22,000 kids that apply for this program (Spirit of Community). So I am just always shocked because the 22,000 kids that apply for this are all doing amazing things.”

According to the executive director of one of the organizations recognizing these students, their level of compassion goes above and beyond.

“The young people recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards demonstrate an enormous capacity for giving and reaching out to those in need,” said Gerald Tirozzi, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. “NASSP is proud to honor these student leaders because they are wonderful examples of the high caliber of young people in our nation’s schools today.”

All volunteer efforts at the Hughes house take place after home-school hours and the family is always enlisting neighborhood kids to package items that seem to seep out of their garage doors.

“We have a garage full of stuff just piled to the ceiling so we would have these kit-put-together parties,” Angela Hughes said with a laugh.

Though it was a bit of a challenge to complete the project during the allotted four-week period, due to the nature of the product, the family is overwhelmed by its success.

Simply put: “It felt good,” Chase said.

Chase said he intends to save the $1,000 for school and to participate in the Boy Scouts providing local charitable services. Though he does not know what to expect during his trip to Washington, D.C. the 13-year-old says he is “pretty excited.”

For information on Prudential Spirit of Community State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit spirit.prudential.com or www.nassp.org/spirit.

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