Eagle Scout Project Helps Local Not-for-Profit Organization

Facing the prospect of moving 7,000 books out of a house and to a permanent facility could have seemed like a daunting prospect, but for a Grayslake teen, it was an important task.

Paul Marisca is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout and for his big project, he has been helping The Book Bridge get established in its new Grayslake location.

The not-for-profit literary support organization, founded by Pam Weiss, has contracted with Community Consolidated School District 46 to use the ISC building in front of Grayslake Middle School as a storage and distribution facility. 

Weiss, a Grayslake resident, told the District 46 Board in June that The Book Bridge is a grassroots project that helps children in need. Books are collected and distributed to children up to age 18 who are in crisis situation. 

Weiss has been collecting books and storing them in her house. 

Marisca said he moved more than 7,000 books from Weiss' house to the ISC building, with assistance from fellow Scouts and others. 

"It took a day to do the moving and then two days to shelve everything," said Marisca. 

He and his team of volunteers used vans from neighbors to transport the books.

Now, Marisca is building a book shelf and then he'll be submitting his paperwork to become an Eagle Scout. Asked if he was excited about receiving the honor, Marisca had a simple, but enthusiastic, response: "Very."

He added that he has spent about 100-150 hours on becoming an Eagle Scout.

Paul is the son of A.J. and Leigh Anne Marisca.