GIRL SCOUTS GIVE A GIFT, GET A BETTER ONE IN RETUR

When the Girl Scout Cadettes in Girl Scout Troop 50088 heard that there would be girls living in the new Habitat for Humanity home in Marble Hill, they knew they wanted to do something special for those girls. They saved $250 from troop fundraisers to support their service project idea. But when they asked the girls who lived in the Habitat for Humanity home what they needed for their rooms, the girls said they had everything they really needed -- but that they had a neighbor in Marble Hill who had just moved, and had no furniture or decorations in her room.

The Girl Scouts didn't miss a beat, taking this new friend shopping for bedroom furniture and accessories. They even set up the room and did a suspenseful room unveiling for her. "The look on her face was priceless," wrote troop volunteers BJ Grindstaff and Cherly Dowd, "[We] all learned a very important lesson that day." And they'll continue to learn lessons together; the new neighbor is joining Girl Scouts!

"This is such a wonderful example of Girl Scouts taking action in their local community," says Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland CEO Jennifer M. Orban, "These girls, and the girls who generously passed up the troop's gift, really demonstrate the power that girls have." For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, contact Community/Membership Development Specialist Amy Ybarra at 877-312-4764 x 1525 or aybarra@girlscoutsmoheartland.org.