Eagle Scout took old rocks from AUMP church gardens and put new ones in church walls

Replacing stones in walls and landscaping gardens was the Eagle Scout project of Goshen High School senior Alex Canale, at St. John African Union Methodist Protestant Church. A happy place for him to work, he was happy to work on it, he said.

Assisted by other scouts in Boy Scout Troop 63, he recently completed his project, earning an Eagle Scout Award. Since he was a young scout, Alex spent much time assisting at AUMP, at 20 W. Main Street in Goshen. So in late September when he was deciding on his project, the church came to mind.

“This church has always been a super nice place to work,” said Canale. “The people here are always friendly and welcoming. I’m happy to help beautify the church.”

He constructed fieldstone walls and restored older gardens on the sides of the church building. The scouts landscaped the gardens by adding topsoil and mulch, giving them a clean finished look.

“We’re taking the old rocks out of the gardens, and putting new rocks in the walls and making them longer and taller,” said Canale.

Working with the Eagle Scout candidate were fellow scouts Eric Bunzey, Javier Rodriguez, Daniel Hartley and Quentin Riley. Also assisting Canale on the job, which took about six hours to complete, were his parents, Joe and Romie Canale.

“We deeply appreciate the generosity and fidelity of Troop 63 throughout the past 13years,” said Mother Mary Sumter, long-time church member who is currently serving as local missionary.

“Many thanks to Alex Canale in helping to beautify this historic church,” added Pastor Brazley Young. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

The Canale family would like to thank Colonial Wallstone, Jansen Nursery and Stoneyard, and Lowe’s in Chester for their generous support of this project.