One of the vital components of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is teaching the meaning of impactful service. There are so many first experiences that happen at troop meetings; you might be introducing a Girl Scout to a cause they will champion for years to come.
By taking your troop on different service projects, you are teaching them how wonderful it feels to give back. You are living the Promise of “helping people at all times”. We feel inspired daily by the incredible projects our troops accomplish. If you are looking for inspiration for a service project for your troop, read on!
- Last February, Tiffany Baxter and Troop 2767 visited Feed Sumner Food Bank and Ministry. The troop learned how a food bank operates and assisted with organizing the food to deliver! This experience taught the Girl Scouts how they can help people who are experiencing hunger. Amanda Long and Service Unit 204 coordinated a canned food drive for Hands of Hope Food Bank! They collected and delivered over 3600 items! These service projects provided tremendous assistance to their local communities. You can find a local food bank near your troop here.
- Crystal McAlister and Heather Phillips took Troop 845 to Clarksville Veterans Home this past Valentine’s Day. The troop made cards and goodie bags and spent time with the residents. This was an incredible opportunity for the troop to learn about the sacrifices made by our armed forces and provide some cheerful company. They have visited for four years now- what a special tradition!
- Have you ever thought about establishing a little free library? Several troops have collected books to donate, and some have even created new little libraries! Last December, Jadda Parton and Troop 656 held a book exchange party, and then donated additional books to their local spot. You can find one near you by visiting Little Free Library’s website. Some members of your troop might even find a new book that they are interested in reading!
We could go on and on about the magnificent service projects that troops come up with– these are simply a few that have inspired us lately! Girl Scouts are always showing up with creative ideas to help the community. And remember: there’s no such thing as a “small” project. Every time your Girl Scouts put their hearts into supporting others, they are making a big difference!
Let us know what your favorite volunteer experiences have been!