Trevor Mayes frequently referred to his checklist Feb. 7 as volunteers worked to fill backpacks with personal hygiene items for Inter-Faith Community Services to distribute to homeless clients.

The Littleton High School sophomore said he chose this as his Eagle Scout Leadership Project because he had been homeless and knew how valuable the items in the backpacks are.

He said he knew the economy was increasing the number of homeless so he turned to Inter-Faith as the agency he would work with on his project.

The culmination of his efforts came Feb. 7 when more than 25 volunteers gathered at the Inter-Faith headquarters in Englewood to put the assembled items in the backpacks.

Before most of the volunteers went to work, Mayes and three or four helpers set up tables and put out the items to go in the backpacks.

There were cartons of individual rolls of toilet paper, stacks of notebooks, boxes of assorted personal hygiene items like shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors and soap.

The personal items also were divided into separate boxes, one for men and one for women.

Additionally, there were special items like coloring books and stuffed animals set aside for those backpacks prepared for children.

The instructions were simple — grab a backpack and move down the assembly line where other volunteers handed out the items. The final items added were two bottles of water and the completed backpacks were placed in designated locations.

Maria Pearson, Inter-Faith spokesperson, said the Eagle project was much needed.

She explained the number of clients has risen dramatically in the last few months and the number of homeless among the new clients also has increased.