Right in Our Community

Right in Our Community is a new template to gather information from the leaders about locations, organizations, or individuals to which they have taken Girl Scout troops.

The information will be arranged by service centers so that leaders can have the opportunity to ask their membership specialist for an updated list on locations in the community that are Girl Scout “friendly”. Leaders are asked to fill out the sheet with locations, organizations, or individuals information and we will compile the listing!

Right in Our Community Troop Leader Form

Community service projects are wonderful opportunities for girls to give back to their communities. Each year GSCI sponsors approximately three service projects which girls may participate in individually or with a troop. Past council-sponsored service projects have included serving the hungry, collecting hats and mittens for children, and volunteering at local animal shelters.

Girls and troops are also encouraged to initiate their own community service projects by exploring opportunities to meet needs they see in their own communities. In Girl Scouts of Central Illinois alone we have over 20,000 girl members. Imagine if each one of them touched the life of one person in need – that’s the power of numbers to make a difference in our communities! If your troop participates in its own community service project or you know of a troop that does, we’d love to hear about it! What did the troop do? Whom did they serve? How did their actions serve their local community?

We have three new community service projects for the 2011-2012 year. If you have further questions regarding GSCI community service projects, or to let us know about a community service project your troop initiated, contact Billie Waddell, Program Specialist, at bwaddell@girlscouts-gsci.org or (217) 328-5112 ext. 1204.

These three service projects are for girls of all ages and run from November 2011 to May 2012.

Location: All Service Centers
Patches may be purchased at your local Trefoil Boutique for $1.25 each. Please include a description of your community service project.

Birthday in a Bag

Everyone loves to have a party, but for some the funds may not be available. In honor of Girl Scouts turning 100 in 2012, help those in need by creating a birthday in a bag. By including the following items in a bag and donating to your local food pantry or shelter you can help brighten someone’s life on their special day. Possible items to include in your bag: birthday card, cake mix, streamers, cupcake holders or foil pan, hats, candles,
party favors, or frosting mix or container.

Serving Seniors

Do you have a neighbor who could use a hand, or do you live near a retirement home or nursing home? Here are some ideas to help you decide how you may be able to help out in your community.

• Find out what games and craft supplies a local nursing home may need and make a donation.
• Organize a yard work neighborhood beautification project and donate your help, energy, elbow grease, and expertise to local senior citizens.
• Hold a senior citizen neighborhood picnic/cookout and offer games such as horseshoes, croquet, and checkers.
• Make lap quilts or blankets and donate them to a nursing home.
• Locate your local Meals on Wheels service and learn what you can do to assist them.
• Volunteer to go grocery shopping for a senior citizen or shut-in

Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary Take Action- Forever Green Project

Girl Scouts Forever Green (GSFG), the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary Take Action project, is a national effort of girls leading their families, schools, and communities in improving the environment and protecting natural resources. GSFG invites girls to Take Action on three major projects.

• February: girls, families, and friends will learn how to reduce plastic waste.
• March: girls, families, and friends will replace incandescent bulbs with Energy Star or other energy efficient bulbs and will participate in Earth Hour by turning the lights out from 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. the last Saturday of March.
• April: girls, families, and friends will learn about, construct, and maintain rain gardens in their schools, homes, and communities.

Please go to www.girlscouts.org/gsforevergreen to find out more about the Forever Green project and how you can share the results of your project with GSUSA.

Community Service Information and Form