The following organizations need your help:

Avalon Hospice

Girls aged 14 or older are invited to “adopt” a facility and help make the lives of residents more pleasant. Girl Scouts, troops or individuals, may want to plan a tea party, craft activity, or talent show with a once monthly commitment for a period of time determined by the facility. These assisted-living homes are located in our council area and Avalon Hospice will help you find a facility in your area. For more information, contact Susan Burdorf, Volunteer Coordinator of Avalon Hospice, at (615) 889-5995.

Back-2-School Backpacks

World Relief Nashville resettles refugees from around the world (Bhutan, Burma, Iraq and Somalia and others) in middle Tennessee and helps them become self-sufficient. Each year, World Relief Nashville collects backpacks and school supples for refugee children. Although there is a big push at the beginning of the school year, they get new refugee arrivals year-round. The refugee children must be enrolled in school within 30 days of their arrival to Nashville, so the need is constant. Call (615) 833-7735 or email volunteernashville@wr.org for more details.

Hospital Hospitality House

Hospital Hospitality House provides a home away from home for patients and caregivers who from out of town, but who are in Nashville to receive medical care. Since 1974, they have provided more than 380,000 nights of lodging to guests from all 95 counties in Tennessee, all 50 states in the U.S. and 39 foreign countries. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing a meal, a place to stay and support.

Hospital Hospitality house has ongoing needs for items such as dishwashing detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, other household items and food items, such as cereal, individually wrapped snacks, crackers, etc. In addition, they can use help with landscaping, cleaning and special events.

Please visit Hospital Hospitality House to see their wish list.

Lynnwood Way Water Tank Beautification Project

In 2009 Mallory Valley Utility District condemned a portion of the Lynnwood Downs Subdivision and built the Beech Creek Project 5 Million Gallon Water Tank located on Lynnwood Way, Franklin, TN at the crest of the Lynnwood Downs Subdivision.

Through federal and state grant funds and community (business and volunteer) execution of the project, the goal is to fully landscape immediate and ridge area through the use of mature, fast growing evergreens and native vegetation and cover the Beech Creek Project 5 Million Gallon Water Tank with an organic naturalistic mural painting. Working closely with TN Congressman Charles Sargant, and Laurie Rousseau, Keep Williamson County Beautiful, we are optimistic that there are several viable grant options for this “Public Art” project.

The project target date is fall 2013 through spring 2014.

Seeds of Hope

Seeds of Hope is a teen led organization that focuses on raising awareness about the number of Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and homelessness.

Since 2010 the organization has served over 500 veterans and their families though their Victory Gardens. Teams plant gardens in the surrounding communities and at Veteran facilities to grow crops for Vets. This season Seed of Hope will be expanding, and Girl Scouts are asked to volunteer at the Fisher House in their area. When starting a chapter of Seeds of Hope, the responsibilities are as followed:

• Building two raised beds at the Fisher House
• Planting the seeds in the gardens
• Maintain the garden two to three times a month to weed and help harvest
• Harvest at the end of the season with the residents

At the end of the season Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to have a “Victory Party” where they will cook with the harvested crops and eat with the residents.
Please visit yalgroups.org/seedsofhope.html for more information.

Formerly known as LIT, a volunteer in training is any Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador (9-12 grades) who is looking to learn more about the inner workings of a troop. The VIT must work directly with a Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie or Junior troop for a consistent amount of time and take on the responsibilities of assisting the troop leader with the planning and implementation of troop meetings.

For training information, contact Jeanne Billings at (615) 460-0212 or jbillings@gsmidtn.org.

Any Girl Scout Cadette (6-8 grades) who is interested in assisting in a troop, service unit or council program for younger girls. PAs work directly with a troop/group under the supervision of an adult volunteer. The Program Aide is required to attend training sessions where she gains expertise in a particular field of interest.

For training information, contact Jeanne Billings at (615) 460-0212 or jbillings@gsmidtn.org.

By the time a Girl Scout has reached Senior or Ambassador level, they have demonstrated leadership, service to others, perseverance, and the ability to work.  This makes Girl Scouts ideal candidates for college scholarships.

Girls Scouts USA has information about scholarship opportunities. Visit the Girl Scouts website at www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/scholarships

Lipscomb University
The Scout Award is a $10,000 award for any incoming freshmen who is accepted to Lipscomb and has received the Gold Award. To apply for this award, visit the Financial Aid (http://admissions.lipscomb.edu/finacialaid/scholarships/) page of the Lipscomb University website.

Mary Duncan Scholarship Fund
The Mary Duncan Scholarship Fund is a scholarship opportunity available to Gold Awardees in the Middle Tennessee area with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.8 or higher. The scholarship is presented by Medical Billing Alternatives, LLC and is named in honor of former troop leader Mary Duncan, who was a troop leader and mentor to Medical Billing Alternatives Chief Financial Officer, Michelle Anderson. The application process will open on March 1, 2013.  Applications will be accepted through the mail – please use the address listed on the application (please do not send to the Girl Scouts office).  All applications must be postmarked by March 31, 2013 in order to be eligible.  The scholarship award is $2,500. Download the scholarship application here.

Scarlett Family Foundation
www.scarlettfoundation.org/middle-tennessee/scholarships.htm
Since 22006, the Scarlett Family Foundation has awarded over $1.6 million in college scholarships to students in Middle Tennessee in pursuit of a business degree.

Tennessee Women’s Economic Council Scholarships
(http://www.womenseconomicfoundation.org/scholarships.html)
Recognizing that education helps women increase their earning potential, the Women’s Economic Foundation offers six $1,000 scholarships to women making a commitment to improve their economic autonomy.

University of Tennessee – Martin
www.utm.edu/deparments/finaid/scholarship_links.php
Gold Award recipients are eligible to receive $800 per year for four years.

Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation
www.cjsfoundation.org/html/academic_study.html
This foundation awards scholarships to women who have attained the Silver or Gold Award and who plan to or are currently pursuing a major/minor in a foreign language at a four year college. The scholarships provides $1,500 per year.

American Girl Fashion Show
Mercy Community Healthcare is excited to host and benefit from the American Girl® Fashion Show! Mercy is seeking girls  with confidence and sparkle ages 6 to 11 to wear historical and contemporary fashions for three shows to be held on November 9 at The Factory in Franklin.

The proceeds from the American Girl Fashion Show will help Mercy to continue to help families by providing access to quality healthcare, regardless of insurance. For more details, email  Veronica Pulley, Show Director, at americangirlshow@comcast.net.

Flat Daisy and Flat Brownie (similar to Flat Stanley)
Help troop 1680 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The Flat Daisy and Flat Brownie come from the children’s book “Flat Stanley,” the story of a young boy who gets flattened and mailed around the world. Troop 1680 has made a Flat Daisy doll and a Flat Brownie doll and will mail the doll and her journal to the troops interested in participating. You can do activities with her, then place pictures, badges and stories into her journal. She is then mailed to the next troop. Troops will be able to see what adventures she has had along the way.

For information on participating: 
Jennie Barton, Troop 1680
Email:  belongajennie@gmail.com

Girl Scouts of Connecticut Trefoil Project and Resources

Information on ways to talk to your troop about the devastation at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Girl Scouts of Northern California has posted information about the Trefoil Project, a way for Girl Scouts across the country to send their condolences to the families of the Newtown community:

Many sister Girl Scouts have asked what they can do to help. Girl Scouts of Connecticut is planning a memorial service sometime in January, and they will be accepting messages of condolences from girls and supporters across the country on Trefoil patterns.

Girl Scouts across the nation are encourage to write down thoughts or prayers or art in the shape of the Girl Scout trefoil. Download the Trefoil pattern.

If you or any of your troops would like to participate, please send these trefoils to:

Hartford Service Center
c/o Trefoil Project
340 Washington St.
Hartford, CT 06106.

 

Does your organization or group have a project and need help?  Girl Scouts like to help. We are dedicated to making the world a better place.

Submit your service opportunities to the Program Department (Programdept@gsmidtn.org) and we’ll pass it along.

Girl Scouts working on a Gold Award may submit information about their projects and requests for help.

Submit your award project service requests to the Award Committee. (info@gsmidtn.org subject line: Gold Award project service request)