They are well known for selling popcorn outside local Wal-Mart, Giant, and Lowes stores. Boy Scouts spend numerous hours every month contributing to their community and serving multiple community service events. A scout since the age of six, senior Tyler Hooper planned and managed his very own community service blood drive.

  On March 22, Hooper held a blood drive event at the Quarterpath Terrace Community Center, just down the road from Potomac Falls. In order for a Boy Scout to move up to an eagle scout, you must lead a service event all on your own.

  “It took me numerous hours of planning and advertising,” said Hooper. However, he was not on his own.

  “Friends and family helped at the blood drive by signing people in and gave them snacks and drinks during their recovery,” said Hooper. His hard work and responsibility paid off and was able to surpass the expectations set by his leaders.

  “The hardest part was finding people to donate. The leaders wanted me to have at least 20 people volunteer, but I was able to get 36 people to donate,” said Hooper.

  Hooper himself has donated blood eight different times. This was just one reason that swayed him to make a blood drive his service event.

 “Because of all the snow we have had this winter, there have been many accidents and a large need of blood. I wanted to be the one to fulfill the need in Loudoun County,” said Hooper. Of the 36 volunteers that came to the blood drive, all had to follow the rules and regulations.

  “You have to be at least 16 years old and have a parental guardian sign a permission form unless you are 17 years or older,” said Hooper. Among this rule, people must have had a certain iron level, a form of identification such as a driver’s license, and could not have previously donated blood within the last eight weeks.

  Whether he himself is giving back to the community, or he’s planning a larger event, Hooper is the definition of a true Boy Scout.