43
Girl Scout Troop 80415 achieves Bronze Award
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.The eight members of Junior Girl Scout Troop 80415 was awarded the Bronze Award Community Service Project for collecting gently used school supplies which were donated to Sojourner House in Youngstown and Summit Academy in Warren.
By TIM CLEVELAND
The Girl Scouts of troop 80415 worked hard and completed their Bronze Award Community Service Project, the highest award and Junior Girl Scout can achieve.
The eight-girl troop collected gently used school supplies, sorted, inventoried and donated them to Sojourner House in Youngstown and Summit Academy in Warren.
The supplies were presented to Audrey Walker, operations manager of Sojourner House, and Patricia Johnston, behavior specialist of Summit. The presentation was Aug. 20 at the Poland library.
Sojourner received creative kits for children at the house including many school supply items. The kits were handmade by the scouts. Summit received book bags, loose leaf paper, notebooks, pencils, office supplies and more.
“The girls worked collaboratively, industriously and successfully to complete their intended outcome,” co-troop leader Heather Trolio said. “[Co-troop leader Julie Liddle and I] could not be more proud and pleased of the entire spectrum of the project.”
The Bronze Award has been a part of Girl Scouts of the USA since 2001. To receive the award, scouts need to complete 20 vested hours in the project. They need to make a plan that identified a problem where a community difference could be made. Troop 80415 focused on students in the area in need of supplies for school. After research and learning more, Sojourner House and Summit Academy were decided upon as a group. The troop then needed to put their plan into action. The girls put out donation boxes at Poland McKinley and Poland Middle School for gently used school supplies. The girls then sorted the donations and collectively decided which items would go to each entity.
Lastly, the girls needed to spread the work thought the community on what was accomplished. This is being done through word of mouth, print media and possibly social media.
Each troop member will submit a final report in the upcoming weeks to GSNEO (Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio) in order to receive their official award.
Trolio was asked what lessons she felt the troop learned from doing the project.
“Leadership, planning skills, how to make a positive impact in their own local community, commitment in many forms, and knowing that each girl can become the absolute best she can be and make a difference in the lives of others,” she said.
Troop member Haley Trolio said doing the Bronze Award project educated her on things she had no idea of.
“I learned a lot about Sojourner House,” she said. “I didn’t know what it was and what they did. I learned to be much more thankful for what I have and I was shocked at how much people throw away. I enjoyed the project very much and am proud of the work that we did.”