Approximately 80 girl scouts and leaders from 18 different troops, ranging in age from Daisies up to Seniors, from all across the Northern Dutchess Community, came together on Friday, May 6th for their Third Annual Charity Event.
Collectively, these girl scouts impressively filled half a Salvation Army truck with clothes. They rolled $333 dollars worth of coins for the Girl Scouts Annual Giving Campaign.
Four stations featured hands-on activities: the girls made over 100 origami cranes to benefit Japan, provided 76 no-sew pillows for the Maria Farreri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, 14 no-sew blankets (also for the Children’s Hospital), and the girls put together mounds of treat bags, dog bones for dogs and cat nip treat bags for cats, to be delivered to the Ulster County ASPCA.
Over 200 books were collected to benefit Veterans and the American Red Cross (see www.operationpaperback.org for more details).
Another troop sponsored collection of Pop Tops for Shriners, many pounds were collected. The Shriners take the money they earn from the pop tops to buy toys for children at the hospital. Ten bags of food were divided between the Pine Plains and Northern Dutchess Community Action of Red Hook food pantries. Two garbage bags full of Yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks and pattern books were collected and delivered to the Lafayette Women’s Shelter in NYC, where residents will be taught to knit and crochet.
Another troop sponsored collection of school supplies supplied to the Brown Bag Boutique in Pine Plains and to Operation Iraqi Children. Finally, an SUV full of supplies was delivered to an anonymous local family in need with children dealing with Mitochodrial Disease.
While certainly proud of the excellent participation from so many troops across our area (Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Pine Plains), Melissa Levy, the event organizer is also looking for even more local charities to incorporate into next year’s Charity Event.
She welcomes hearing from anyone who has ideas and encourages residents to contact her at 758-3038.
The Northern Dutchess Girl Scout Community Council will also be looking into ways to incorporate the community at large in this wonderful event next year.
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