Girl Scouts Respond to the Southern California Fires

By Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer

October 25, 2007

We are deeply saddened by the terrible fires that have swept across Southern California over the last few days, destroying nearly 1,300 homes and forcing a half-million people to evacuate.

Details surrounding the status of our Girl Scout families are slowly surfacing. Jo Dee Jacob, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council, first and foremost wants to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes. Their camps lost no structures. Three of their properties served as bases for firefighting personnel. At this time, they know of at least 40 Girl Scout families who have lost their homes. A report from the Girl Scouts of Orange County indicates that their properties remain intact. It has been requested by Jo Dee that we continue to send good wishes and that we not send care packages. However, as we become aware of specific needs and requests for the affected councils, we will share them with you on the Girl Scouts Web site, www.girlscouts.org. For now, we suggest you use your own judgment in making donations to the fire relief efforts established by other organizations, such as the Red Cross.

Additionally, we have "re-purposed" tools to use with children and one for adults on handling a crisis; they are available under "Resources." In the meantime, we welcome your thoughts and ideas, which you can send to us at sistershelpingsisters@girlscouts.org.

Your efforts and genuine concern are appreciated as we move forward together with a unified approach to help those in need overcome this disaster.

About Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the preeminent organization for and leading authority on girls with 3.6 million girl and adult members. Now in its 95th year, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.

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