Two years ago, Christopher Fereno earned his Eagle Scout badge, the highest rank attainable. Now it’s his brother Zachary’s turn.

Zachary did his project in honor of his cousin, who passed away at York Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) when she was just 2 months old. It’s called “Gifts from Angels: In Memory of Audrey Grace.”

His goal was to collect 50 crocheted blankets for the babies at St. Luke’s hospital’s NICU, as well as 100 crocheted hats for the babies in Lehigh Valley Hospital’s NICU. He actually collected 206 blankets and 1,826 hats. They were delivered to both hospitals late this summer.

Each hat and blanket was washed and then put into a Ziploc bag to keep it clean. The hats were also sorted by size and color. The hats and blankets are used to keep the babies warm when they are out of their incubators. They also cover the isolettes and shield the babies from the bright lights of the NICU. Both items will serve as cherished mementos for the babies and their families.

Zachary’s is the first project in the history of the Minsi Trails Council to have two separate beneficiaries. It required more than 5,500 volunteer hours from across the country. The youngest volunteer, Gabby, is just 8 years old.