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Shining a Spotlight on Food Insecurity: Earn GSCCC’s Explore the Foodbank Patch
Did you know that millions of families across the country struggle with food insecurity every day? As Girl Scouts, we have the power to make a real difference in our communities. Girl Scouts across our Council are taking action to help our neighbors in need, and you can, too! By completing a Take Action project focused on food insecurity, or by earning GSCCC’s Explore the Foodbank patch, you’ll learn why hunger happens, how it affects people of all ages, and what you can do to help.
Since 1981, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a member of Feeding America™ and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, has been providing food for hungry people throughout Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore. You can discover, connect, and take action with this community partner’s patch program.
Meet some Girl Scouts getting hands-on to help others who are facing food insecurity.
Troop 2119’s Birthday Boxes for the Food Bank
Girl Scouts from Troop 2119 celebrated Founder’s Day by creating 18 birthday-in-a-box kits that were donated to the Food Bank of the Albemarle. The kits included cake mix, frosting, a soda, balloons, birthday candles, and a greeting from the troop explaining how the soda replaces the oil, eggs, and water that the cake mix requires. The troop even included gluten-free and sugar-free options for those with additional dietary needs.
Troop 946’s Suffolk Christian Church Food Pantry Expansion Project
Girl Scout Troop 946 has made a lasting impact on the Suffolk, Virginia, community through their Girl Scout Silver Award project, the Suffolk Christian Church Food Pantry Expansion Project. For many families living on fixed incomes, the necessities, including hygiene products, can be difficult to afford. The troop learned that of the six food pantries and outreach ministries in downtown Suffolk, only one offers household products—and only when available—and none currently provide hygiene items. They met with Suffolk Christian Church’s Director of Children, Youth and Adult Ministries, Priscilla Bunch, rolled up their sleeves and got to work—cleaning, reorganizing, and painting the pantry to make it more efficient and inviting. They created shelving labels, designed permanent donation collection boxes, and developed a collection process for new items. To raise awareness, they also made flyers, signs, and posters to encourage community donations.
The troop shared, “We hope that by offering additional items, we’ll be able to help more people in the community and increase the number of recipients.”
