Bronze Award Project helps grieving parents

A desire to help babies and a suggestion made by their troop leader were the driving forces for a Bronze Award project completed by eight Girl Scout Juniors. The girls in Hermiston Troop 51445 -- Amanda, Hannah, Dalene, Brecklyn, Emily, Jancee, Shayla and Natalia (who has since moved) -- originally talked about about making blankets and hats for babies in a hospital. But then, their troop leader, Debbie Walker, told them about an organization that offers portraits for parents who suffer the loss of an infant. "The girls were all in agreement after I explained the organization to them," says Walker.
The troop spent six months making at least 20 blankets, 25 hats and two pillows for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. The girls received instruction from Walker and another troop parent, Maria Wineberger; and fabric and yarn donations from their parents. The rest of the supplies were purchased using funds raised from cookie sales. They finished the project and handed over their handmade gifts on Sept. 30.

$ervice unit funds available to assist members

For every fall product item, magazine subscription and box of cookies sold, girls not only earn prize incentives and funds for their troop, but a percentage goes to the service unit, as well.

A small portion of those funds (5 percent) goes to cover the administrative costs the team of volunteers use to pay for printing, postage, service unit level recognitions, etc. The rest goes right back to the members in our area.

The team held a budget meeting Nov. 6 and approved funding to assist members with the following:
* help youth members cover the cost of their Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects
* help adult members cover the costs of trainings, training materials and travel to attend trainings
* Destinations fees for a Cadette or older to go on an extended Girl Scout-sponsored trip
* scholarships for girls to attend camps, non-troop trips and more

To be considered for any of the above assistance, write a letter of interest to the service unit team. Include your full name and troop number, your troop's program age level and what the funds will be used for. Letters can be given to any team member. For additional information, contact our service unit's treasurer or manager.

Service unit T-shirts available for order

Orders are now being accepted for our new service unit T-shirt! To view the shirt, visit our link on the council's website (click here). The design includes the drawing of four girls, each depicting one of the four counties in our service  unit. Underneath is the message "We 4 are 22." It was the winning design in a contest held last year and was submitted by Hermiston Cadette Troop 51460. The cost is $6 per shirt.

Another design is also available for those who are interested. It was submitted by Angela McIntosh of Hermiston Troop 51444. Is shows a map of our four counties surrounded by items that depict our area, such as a rodeo cowgirl, dinosaur skeleton and watermelon. The cost for this shirt is $9 each.

Both shirts are available in youth XS, S, M and L; and adult S, M, L, XL and 2-5XL. (Sizes larger than XL will cost $1-2 more.)

To place an order, contact Michelle Kane at (541) 564-5985 or kaneclan@eotnet.net.