Community Service

Opportunities Available

Past Projects

Food Drive

Community Awards

Community service is a core quality of Girl Scouting. In the very first handbook, written by Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts pledged to "do a good turn everyday." If by chance, a girl went through the entire day without doing a good deed, she was required to do two the next day to make up for it!

Community service is an important element of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Girls of all ages are given opportunities as individuals and as members in troops, groups and in service units. They learn important and valuable skills through community service which will help them develop into responsible citizens.  Through community service, girls can see that their involvement has the power to change the world.

Opportunities Available

To find out about community organizations that may need volunteer help or may direct you to a community service project, visit the following websites:

• Volunteer Hampton Roads
• United Way of South Hampton Roads
• United Way of the Virginia Peninsula
• United Way of Greater Williamsburg
• Franklin-Southampton Area United Way
• Albemarle Area United Way

Equi-Kids Riding That Benefits The Body & Mind is a  therapeutic riding program that serves over 70 adults and children in its weekly riding program. An active School Partnership Program allows special needs students from the area's public school systems to participate in riding and theory classes once a week. Therapeutic riding increases muscle tone, balance and coordination; generates feelings of self-worth and self-confidence; and perpetuates socialization skills with others.
You can make a difference in a variety of ways:

• Volunteer for weekly lessons or barn duties
  
• Adopt-A-Horse
  
• Donations of resources, time, and talents
  
• Help on special projects
  
• Farm maintenance and upkeep
  
• Administrative services

Hospitality for the Homeless (HFH), based in Norfolk, VA, serves as a re-distribution agency for travel-size toiletries to those in need. National inventory partners donate toiletries which are re-packaged by community service partners into Care Kits and are distributed to recognized homeless shelters and needs-based agencies. For more information, or to find out how your Girl Scout(s) can volunteer, email info@hospitalityforthehomeless.org or see their Web site at www.hospitalityforthehomeless.org.

Samaritan House Serving homeless families & victims of domestic violence. Samaritan House helps families who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence with emergency shelter, case management, safety planning, legal services and support groups. They shelter more than 120 people a night from the region, which means providing clothing, school supplies and support to over 800 children annually. Children's services are coordinated by our Children's Program staff and include child care assistance, summer camps, field trips and homework help. More information can be found at their Web site, www.samaritanhouseva.org or call (757) 631-0710.

Music and arts service project opportunities in area nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Past Projects

The following is a letter received from Mr. "Dick" Thrailkill of Chesapeake:

Recently, I had some major surgery that required a total right knee replacement.  I also have a small dog name "Buddy."  Our favorite time of every day is our two or three walks around the neighborhood where we have an opportunity to meet and greet our neighbors and their pets too.  Buddy especially enjoys chasing, and being chased, by some of the neighborhood cats.

Needless to say, our walks have been put on hold until I am again mobile.  While Buddy is happy just "hanging out" with my wife and I, his real passion is running, playing, and chasing outside.

Last week, a couple of the neighborhood girls, both Girl Scouts, knocked on my door and offered to take Buddy for a walk around the block.  Buddy got his chance to stretch his legs and Jackie and I were happy to see him so well taken care of during his walks.  I offered the girls a small token of appreciation, however, they would not hear of it.  Instead, I got a hug and a sincere get well soon.

My heart goes out to these girls for learning the true meaning of kindness and "love they neighbor."  I want to thank these young ladies, the Girl Scouts, and the parents that are raising some fine young Americans in a time when so few young adults are learning the fundamentals of being a good neighbor.  We adults need to acknowledge the good deeds going on around us every day.

Keep up the good work, Girl Scouts!

Junior Troops Team Up to Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month

During the month of October, Junior Troop 360 from Great Bridge & Junior Troop 464 from Virginia Beach purchased a total of 40 boxes of tissues. They covered them with newspaper and decorated them with the theme, "Be Strong and Courageous." These boxes of tissues were placed in the bedrooms at the YWCA's Women in Crisis & Recovery Shelter and are being used in the housewarming baskets for new clients. Additionally, Jr. Troop 360 had a representative from the shelter come to their meeting and speak with them about domestic violence. What a great example of young girls helping and encouraging women in their community.

Virginia Beach Junior Girl Scout’s Bronze Award Helps Friend and Others

Tori, a Junior Girl Scout from troop 112 in Virginia Beach, spent a Saturday this spring building a service ramp at the Green Run Pagoda as part of her Girl Scout Bronze Award. The ramp will make it easier for her friend and now fellow troop member, Jade, to access the building in her wheelchair. The troop holds weekly meetings at the site. According to Tori, she chose the project when she overheard her mother saying Jade could not join the troop due to the stairs at the Green Run Pagoda.

With her leaders help, Lisa DeAngelis and Dawn Burdick, Tori contacted the Green Run Homes Association to get permission to build a ramp. Not only did they give permission, but they supplied the material. While the ramp was being built, the troop helped Jade enter the building by lifting the wheelchair to the door. Upon the completion of the ramp, the troop held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the occasion and Tori’s Bronze Award success.

As a Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award Project, girls from troop 582 organized a patriotic community service day that took place at Glenwood Elementary School in Virginia Beach. The girls set up information stations with historical facts about the American flag, patriotic songs and national symbols for the girls in their service unit. In addition to visiting stations, the girls made quilt squares that will be donated to Operation Quiet Comfort for the creation of two quilts that will be given to injured military troops. Over 90 girls participated in decorating denim squares with messages of love and support. The Girl Scouts also collected travel size personal care items to send with the quilts. Each Girl Scout earned a badge and learned about the meaning of patriotism. For organizing the event, the girls in Junior Troop 582 were awarded the Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award. You may find out more about Operation Quiet Comfort at www.operationcomfort.com.

To learn about more past projects, please visit our scrapbook.

Community Awards

Many organizations in our area offer opportunities to recognize shining stars in our community.  There are so many people involved with the Girl Scouts who are deserving of such an award.  Consider nominating a girl or volunteer today!

10 On Your Side Shining Star: a WAVY TV 10 award given out weekly to a deserving Hampton Roads resident by WAVY News 10's Alveta Ewell

Community Star: a WTKR award given out weekly to a deserving Hampton Roads resident

If you nominate someone, don't forget to let us know!