ENFIELD — What began as a desire to give back to the community has resulted in a lasting improvement to one of Enfield’s most-used recycling and donation resources.
For his Eagle Scout service project, Theodore Dandurand chose to renovate the interior of the Sharing Shed at the Enfield Transfer Station, transforming the well-used space into a cleaner, safer and more organized resource for residents.
“I wanted to complete a project that would have a lasting benefit for my community,” Dandurand said. “The Sharing Shed was already an important resource, but the inside had become damaged over time. The moldy insulation and lack of organization made it less useful. By renovating the interior, I could help make it cleaner, safer, and more organized so it could continue serving people for years to come. It was meaningful because I knew I was improving something many people rely on.”
Like all Eagle Scout projects, the effort required months of planning before any construction began.
“The first step was planning what needed to be done and getting approval for the project,” Dandurand explained. “Next was getting the funding and resources needed to complete the project.”
Once preparations were complete, volunteers got to work removing every item from the shed and stripping out old, moldy insulation. The team thoroughly cleaned the interior before installing durable sheathing panels on every wall, creating a brighter and more functional space.
The project also included building and painting two new shelves, reusing several existing shelves, labeling storage areas and painting a sign on the door explaining which items are appropriate for donation.
“By the end of the project, the shed was cleaner, more organized, and easier for the community to use,” Dandurand said.
The improvements were designed with long-term use in mind.
“My goal was to improve the Sharing Shed so it would be easier and safer for people to use,” he said. “The new walls, shelving, and labels make it much more organized, while the sign helps people understand what belongs in the shed. I believe the project achieved that because it made the space more welcoming and easier to maintain for everyone who uses it.”
Coordinating a large volunteer effort presented its own challenges.
“One challenge was removing all of the old materials and making sure the space was properly cleaned before we started rebuilding,” Dandurand said. “Another was coordinating the different jobs so volunteers stayed productive throughout the day.”
He overcame those obstacles through careful preparation and leadership.
“I divided the project into smaller tasks, such as removing materials, installing the wall panels, building shelves, painting, labeling and cleaning up,” he said. “I assigned volunteers to different jobs based on what needed to be done, explained each task before we started, and checked in throughout the day to answer questions and keep everyone on schedule. I tried to make sure everyone knew how their work contributed to the final project.”
The experience reinforced valuable leadership lessons that extend well beyond construction.
“This project taught me how important planning and communication are,” Dandurand said. “I learned how to organize a project from start to finish, delegate responsibilities, and solve problems when things didn’t go exactly as planned. I also gained more confidence in leading a group and making decisions while keeping everyone working toward the same goal.”
Looking back, Dandurand says the greatest reward came from seeing the dramatic transformation.
“I’m most proud of seeing the transformation of the inside of the shed,” he said. “It went from being cluttered and damaged to clean, organized, and much more functional. Seeing the finished shelves, wall panels, labels, and sign made all of the hard work worthwhile.”
He added that if he were to do the project again, he would “allow a little more extra time in the schedule in case unexpected delays came up.”
Dandurand also expressed gratitude to those who helped make the project possible.
“This project showed me that even improving an existing resource can make a big difference,” he said. “I appreciate everyone who volunteered their time and the American Legion Post 101 in Somers that supported my project through their donation. Without it, my project would not have been possible. Completing my Eagle Scout project strengthened my leadership skills and showed me how rewarding it is to leave something better than I found it.”
Thanks to those efforts, the Sharing Shed is now better equipped to serve Enfield residents for years to come and act as an enduring example of community service and leadership in action.
