A Holiday Tradition
Girl Scouts Reach Out to Children Everywhere

December 12, 2003

By Carole Wehberg, staff writer

	Wrapping makes gifts look more festive—and makes them more fun to give!
	Girls in San Francisco choose gifts they're sure other kids will enjoy.
	A holiday service project earns girls from Nebraska a festive patch.

"It's one of the things we Girl Scouts do best: Service!" This proud statement is on one of the fliers that goes out to Girl Scout troops across the country early in the holiday season to help them decide how best to lend a hand. Some of the most popular service opportunities are those that directly benefit children. Here are just a few examples:

To Kids from Kids

Girl Scouts of the San Francisco Bay Area are involved in many holiday service projects, but "To Kids from Kids" is one of their favorites. Founded in 1985, the project ensures that foster children up to 18 years old receive a gift during the December holiday season. Girl Scouts from ages 5-17 collect or purchase new gift items that are then sorted and boxed. The girls also design and attach homemade gift tags decorated with stamps or stickers that wish the recipient "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings." To ensure the foster child's privacy, the gifts are picked up by social workers who deliver them personally.

These Girl Scouts don't leave anyone out—not even the "littlest" children celebrating their first holiday season. Through the "Neonatal Quilt Project," Girl Scouts are invited by the nurses at Stanford University's Lucille Packard Children's Hospital to make small quilts. The girls then give the quilts to the families of babies who must come to the hospital from all over the country to undergo neonatal surgery. At this time of year, it's especially comforting to receive these hand-made, pre-washed cotton quilts, in sizes ranging from 16 to 36 square inches. In return, the nurses offer tours of the neonatal unit to project participants. As Nurse Kate Teague says, "Perhaps we can even inspire some of our young quilt-makers to choose nursing as their career!"

Holidays around the World

Doing good and having fun at the same time is pretty irresistible for Girl Scout troops from The Girl Scouts Great Plains Council in Nebraska. Every year the Junior, Cadette, and Senior Girl Scouts from ages nine to 17 can earn a patch for participating in "Holidays around the World," an annual event that enables them to, as one flyer promises, "travel the world without leaving Omaha!" Each troop chooses a country to represent. Then they create and decorate a booth at one of several participating schools exhibiting the holiday crafts, foods, and other items typical of a particular country. The girls also get together to perform traditional folkloric activities, including song and dance. Other Girl Scouts, parents, and community members contribute an admission fee of $1.00, plus the donation of a pair of mittens, a hat, a scarf, or socks. These gifts go to needy children in the area. Younger Girl Scouts also donate and enjoy the worldwide wares their older sister Girl Scouts have prepared. Past exhibits have featured snowflake bread from Iceland and a dragon float in honor of Chinese New Year.

Kids Feeding Kids

No matter where families are from, they all celebrate the holiday season with special meals and seasonal treats. So the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York wanted to do something about children who go to bed hungry even in this season of plenty. Girl Scouts in "The Big Apple" collaborate with City Harvest and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for their Holiday Harvest Food Drive. Each participating troop finds different ways to make the drive more meaningful to them. For example, some Girl Scout troops may choose to create a poster advertising the food drive. Others might want to identify food pantries, soup kitchens, or shelters to which they could direct homeless or hungry children who need a meal or other help. By collecting donations and donating food themselves, these Girl Scouts not only help other kids, they become part of a network of caring community members.

Girl Scouts of the USA wishes you and yours all the best for the holidays and a Happy New Year!