Girl Scouts package essentials for people in need
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — When Girl Scouts Junior Troop #60633 decided to go after the Bronze Award, troop leader Liz Andrews turned to the scouts for ideas. The Bronze Award is the highest award a junior troop can earn, and a major part of earning the award is a service project.
“They pick a problem, and then find some solution to it,” Andrews explained. “Our troop decided that we wanted to help people experiencing homelessness.”
To do that, Troop #60633 has been repurposing old t-shirts by turning them into bags. The bags — or “mini care packages,” as Andrews described them — include essential items like socks, tooth brushes, food, and water. They will be delivered to people experiencing homelessness.
On the outside of the bags, the girl scouts provide an artistic touch.
“I’m painting a heart because I think it will put a smile on someone’s face and help someone remember that they’re worth it and that they’re fine in this world even though maybe they’re going through hard times,” said Reese Martin.
“They’re painting whatever they think will be inspirational to the people in need,” Andrews continued. “So I think we have some rainbows, and some hearts and some thoughtful quotes that would be inspirational and make somebody smile.”
According to Wired, rates of homelessness are the highest they’ve been in the last 20 years. And this data came out before the pandemic, which resulted in millions of people losing their jobs and struggling to pay rent.
The rise in homelessness is also the case in the Denver metro area. A pre-pandemic report found that homelessness was up by more than six percent compared to 2019.
Andrews saw her troop’s project as a way to help those who are “newly homeless,” meaning they’ve been unhoused for less than a year, but also people who have been experiencing homelesness for an extended period of time.
“It was a really great way to help people who might not have experienced [homelessness] in the past, and to help people who have experienced this prior to COVID,” she explained.
Each scout is planning on making 10 bags, so they plan to send out about 50 in total. But Andrews said if people keep donating old t-shirts and supplies, they’d be happy to do more.
Their project started in February, and the troop intends to deliver the bags in May.
If you are interested in making a donation, contact Kim Ryburn at 303-519-3469 or by emailing her at kryburn1586@gmail.com.