A Lakehill Preparatory School sophomore collected more than $12,000 worth of supplies that he donated to refugee children at the U.S. border with Mexico.

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Blake Perry set up donation boxes at his church, Wilshire Baptist, and encouraged family and friends to donate during a presentation at a Sunday service.

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Congregants donated children’s clothing, shoes and school supplies that totaled $12,000.

“I was absolutely surprised at how much we collected,” Perry said.

With the help of his family and other Boy Scouts in his troop, he boxed the supplies, rented a U-Haul and transported the items to Catholic Charities in San Antonio. They were then distributed to children at the border.

“I wanted to do something to help refugees,” Perry said. “This project will have a positive impact on the children who need it the most.”

More than 2,000 unaccompanied children and children separated from their families were being held in border detention facilities from May to June of this year, according to congressional statistics. The facilities are often overcrowded and lack basic necessities, such as food, soap and toothbrushes. 

Perry’s court of honor ceremony will be Dec. 9.