Arts in East: Senior’s Eagle Scout project brings more art, music to community

Published 9:00 am Saturday, December 2, 2023

Editor’s note: This story was updated on Dec. 4, 2023, to correct the placement of benches. Two benches went to Creekside Elementary School, not Piney Chapel Elementary.

Good work brings good attention and a better impact. That’s the lesson East Limestone High School senior Garrett Waters learned firsthand while completing his Eagle Scout project.

Waters is a candidate for the Eagle Scout Rank with local Scout Troop 236 in Athens. For his Eagle Scout project — the culminating event for earning the honor — Garrett led a team of his troop-mates and other volunteers to build seven benches for the East Limestone community.

Each bench was built and stained by hand. After the stain, they were painted to show children, dogs and other beautiful artwork that corresponded to their destinations.

Waters was intentional about where he wanted each bench to go. A bench adorned with a dove is going to Isom’s Chapel Church, the meeting place for Troop 236 during Waters’ 12 years of scouting. Each of the two East Limestone Fire Department stations will also receive a bench.

“I really wanted my project to be a gift back to thank the people and organizations who serve the whole East Limestone Community and that helped me become the person I am today,” Waters said.

The other four benches will be delivered and dedicated to Piney Chapel Primary and Elementary and East Limestone High School to share color and a “thank you” with the schools that served him and his community.

Building seven outdoor, weather-resistant benches isn’t cheap, though, so Waters worked to raise money for his project online. In the process, he caught the attention of a high-profile donor as well.

“Garrett raised money for his bench project with a GoFundMe account, but then we were later blessed to receive a generous donation of $2,000 from East Limestone High School alum Brittany Howard — formerly of the band The Alabama Shakes, and now she is a Grammy-Winning solo artist currently on tour,” Waters’ mother, Ana, told The News Courier.

Waters had already raised enough for his benches, so the artist had another idea for the money that would continue to enrich the community’s involvement in the arts.

“Since we had already met our financial requirement for the supplies for the benches, Ms. Howard asked that we provide her donation to the ELHS Marching Band for any equipment needs and support of band fees for children unable to pay the fees to take part in band,” Ana Waters said.

The benches were to be delivered beginning Friday night, Dec. 1, and the funds will be passed along to their proper steward soon as well.