LIHUE — Six Girl Scouts from Troop 823, Lihue, delivered 21 bags packed for children entering the foster care program to the state’s Department of Human Services – Child Welfare Services, Friday.
The feat earned Girl Scouts Juniors — Nanea, Sadie, Sydney, Lyndsey, Makenna, and Avani — their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. It also came a day ahead of the Troop’s market sales for this year’s Girl Scouts Cookies.
“This Bronze Award involved all of the girls in the troop,” Teresa Caires Nero said. “The Bronze Award project was also funded by a portion of Girl Scout Cookie sales from last year. This is why we wanted to have this project completed before we started selling cookies.”
Labeled “Love Bags for Foster Children,” the girls from Troop 823 packed care bags that includes a blanket, towel, washcloth, slippers, hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, and a stuffed animal.
“The girls basically had to decide on a project that would support their community and would have a lasting, or long term effect,” said Cheryl Stiglmeier, the Troop 823 co-leader. “We were informed that most children going into foster care on Kauai do not return home. They are placed into a permanent home. Currently, there are about 90 children in the system with more boys than girls, and about 10 infants.”
“After they all agreed upon their project, and how they would proceed, they met at Walmart to purchase items for children who may have no belongings as they move into foster care,” Stiglmeier said. “They had to determine what was necessary — hygiene items versus what was a comfort item. They learned and discussed budgeting along the way, and following their Walmart trip, the girls met to assemble the bags. Lastly, they made their donation.”
Caires Nero said the Bronze Award is the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can achieve, and it is also the third to the highest award that a Girl Scout can achieve.
“In order to complete the Bronze Award, the girls each had to go on a Girl Scout Junior Journey, build their project team, explore the communities needs, select the project, formulate a plan, put the plan into motion, and share their story,” Caires Nero said. “By doing so, the girls develop more confidence as they meet more people and have the kind of fun that happens when working with other Girl Scouts to make a difference.”
Source: The Garden Island
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