Photo Provided Boy Scout Trenton Morell and Tonya Player, the associate librarian who coordinates the Pine Island Library programs for children and young adults.

Most days, people of all ages can be seen at the Pine Island Public Library playing games of chess or learning to play.

Only a few weeks ago, it was not a sight to be seen. The reason? The library had no sets to play with.

This situation changed Oct. 17, when a 13-year-old boy entered the library carrying six chess sets. One of the sets was extra large, because each piece bears its name and how it moves. It is used to learn the game.

Tonya Player, who coordinates the library programs for children and young adults, was the person accepting the donated sets. She soon found out how Trenton Morell had obtained the games.

He had bought them with money he raised for that purpose.

Trenton is a Boy Scout with the rank of First Class with Troop 1 of Fort Myers. While his primary residence is in the large Lee County city, his family also has a part-time home on Pine Island, according to his mother.

“As a family, my husband, Tom, and younger son, Michael, the four of us frequently go to the library,” Melodee Morell said. “Trenton noticed the Pine Island library did not have any chess sets, like the other Lee County libraries have, and they have the ‘Chess Anyone?’ program.

“The libraries are making cuts, so Trenton raised the money,” she continued. “He bought candy bars to sell, he received donations and he got enough money to buy the sets.“

Raising nearly $70, Trenton was able to pay himself back for the candy bars he bought with his own money. Then, he bought the sets, and the rest of the money, he said, he gave it to the “Pine Island Food Pantry at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church.“

Trenton, who is an eighth-grade student at Canterbury School, said it took him between two-three weeks to raise the money.

“My dad taught me how to play chess,” he said. When asked how old he was when he started, the Boy Scout replied: “I was just young.“

Asked if he now teaches his 10-year-old brother, he said, “I play with him sometimes.“

Trenton also was asked what he likes the best about the game. He thought for a moment, before answering:

“You have to think a lot; you have to use strategies.“

Trenton has already a strategy lined up for his future.

“I want to join the Army,” he said.

The treasurer of the Pine Island Food Pantry, Barbara Laplante, said the pantry only uses the church facility for storage and distribution, and she does not know Trenton, personally. The money came to her in an envelope, through someone working at the Food Pantry, and a note informed the money was raised by Trenton.

“I did not have a home address, so I sent the thank you note to Dr. Thomas Morell, in Fort Myers,” Laplante said. “I got the address in the phone book. I complimented him and his wife on raising such a wonderful young man, and that they should be proud of what their son accomplished.“

At the library, Player was asked how the games were received by the patrons, she replied.

“It has been pretty popular,” she said.

Now, the Pine Island Public Library is in the position to offer, “Chess, Anyone?” It is for everyone and starts at 3 p.m., Friday Nov. 6.