Local Girl Scouts accept their 100 days challenge

Local Girl Scout troops were among those that recently celebrated their council’s centennial by completing service projects.

The 100 Days of Girl Scouts Challenge tasked troops and individual members throughout Girl Scouts San Diego with doing deeds “to make the world a better place,” officials said. The challenge ran from March 12 (the anniversary of their national organization’s founding in 1912) through June 19.

Among those participating in the challenge was Poway Girl Scout Junior Troop 8858, which took on two endeavors to help children receiving medical care. The girls’ challenge endeavor tied in with their Bronze Award project, which was to create two libraries at Rady Children’s Hospital by collecting and donating books. One library is geared toward teens, the other to children.

Their leader, Mary Talle, said the project was inspired by experiences of Troop member Gabby Mendez, who was a patient at Rady two years ago.

“During her time in the hospital, Gabby benefitted tremendously from all the love and attention she received from her family, friends and troop mates,” Talle said. “When planning their project, the girls asked Gabby, ‘What else could have helped you?’ Her response was, ‘Having more things to do’ during non-visiting hours … which led to the book donation idea.”

The troop of fifth graders also decided to help children receiving medical care at the City of Hope Cancer Treatment Center. For this endeavor they created hospital admission kits for children who go straight into the hospital from a doctor’s visit without time to pack necessities. The kits — in decorated boxes — contain hygiene items, games, stuffed animals, art activities and handmade notes.

As for other local troops’ service projects in response to the centennial challenge, they included Cadette Troop 8157. The sixth and seventh grade members guided by leader Lisa Suzuki volunteered at the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society’s 12th annual Rancho Bernardo Memorial Day Pancake Festival that honored area veterans.

Junior Troop 8856 held a pajama dance party, during which the girls created handmade cards to accompany the pajamas and books they collected for single-mother families “to help kids and their moms cozy up to share a story,” said leader Michelle Lyons.

Brownie Troop 2110 visited the Helen Woodward Animal Center and donated supplies to the facility, according to leader Katherine Lorenz.

The local council, Girl Scouts San Diego, was founded in 1917 with the formation of Troop 1 in Coronado. It was the first Girl Scout troop west of the Rockies, officials said. Now, the council has more than 35,000 girl and adult members throughout San Diego and Imperial counties. To get membership information for girls in kindergarten through 12th grade and adult volunteers, contact Vivien Bray at vbray@sdgirlscouts.org or 619-610-0757. More details are also at sdgirlscouts.org.

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