Bringing in 354 bags or boxes of donations, Girl Scout Troop 1239 in Seymour collected the most items for Goodwill of Southern Indiana Inc.

In January and February, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops in nine southern Indiana counties asked family, friends and neighbors for donations and dropped them off at Goodwill stores.

In all, 4,648 bags and boxes of gently used items were donated through the Good Turn for Goodwill service project.

Troop 1239 was rewarded with a pizza party in May. Then on Sept. 27, Candice Graves, marketing manager for Goodwill of Southern Indiana, visited the Seymour store to meet the girls and have them participate in a promotional video for 2017’s drive.

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The nearly minute-long video will be used on Goodwill of Southern Indiana’s website and social media and emailed to a mailing list to let people know what Goodwill does and how their donations make a difference.

Graves said she hopes to have the video finished in a couple of weeks and then share it with Troop 1239 leader Missy Casner and the girls’ parents. It will go live on the website around mid-November and on social media in January.

During the video shoot, Graves took groups of three or four girls to different parts of the store to film four different segments.

“We greatly appreciate the efforts of our Scouts and everything they do for our nonprofit organization,” Graves said. “Their efforts help us with donations in the winter months when our donations are typically down and greatly needed. Those donations are the gas that fuels the eight nonprofit programs we use to serve our local community.”

The money from store sales goes toward Goodwill’s programs, including store vouchers for nonprofits to hand out to those in need, employment services for those with disabilities and a preschool for children with disabilities.

“Last year, we helped over 6,000 individuals find jobs, get vouchers for free household items, receive pediatric therapies and more,” Graves said. “Together, we make a difference in our community.”

Graves said Good Turn for Goodwill started around the late 1990s. Scouts bringing in at least two bags receive a Good Turn for Goodwill patch. Additional patches are awarded to Scouts donating 25, 50 and 75 bags.

This was the second year for the promotional video. A Girl Scout troop from Clark County won last year.

Casner said several of her 16 girls worked for the high-level patches.

“We’re pretty competitive,” she said. “It’s just fun, and it’s something to do.”

Casner said the troop has participated in the Goodwill drive for several years.

“As involved in the community as they are, they like to be in the limelight, and they just like to give,” she said. “We’ve always done so much for the community, and one more thing is not out of question for them.”

Casner said she appreciated Goodwill providing snacks for the girls before the video shoot and also having an opportunity to help a worthy cause.

“It’s a learning experience for them to get out in front of the public and talk, too,” she said.

Elizabeth Bailey, a member of Troop 1239, said participating in the video shoot made her nervous, but in the end, it was fun.

“It’s fun spending quality time together and doing a whole bunch of fun things together,” she said of the troop’s activities.

During the donation drive, she gathered several clothing items and toys she no longer uses.

“It felt really good because you get to help people that are in need and don’t have a lot of things,” Elizabeth said. “You get to help the people that need stuff. They don’t want it. They actually need it.”

Avery Miller, Patty Todd and Eden Todd weren’t in Troop 1239 when the drive took place, but they were a part of the troop for the video shoot.

“I think it’s cool that I’m going to be in a (video) and because I’ve never been here (to the Goodwill store),” Avery said. “It’s cool to get to go somewhere I’ve never been.”

Avery said being in Girl Scouts gives her an opportunity to help the community and participate in fun activities.

“I like that I can help the community and have activities,” she said. “I’m glad I’m in Girl Scouts.”

Patty said it was fun to promote Goodwill.

“I liked doing all of the fun stuff, and I liked eating snacks,” she said. “It was a really fun video. It’s really helping the community, and it’s really helpful for the drive.”

Eden said she was in a different Girl Scout troop several years ago, and she’s glad to be involved again and get the opportunity to be a part of the video.

“It’s cool that a lot of people will see it,” she said.

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Goodwill of Southern Indiana Inc. operates 11 stores in southern Indiana.

The one in Seymour is at 1857 E. Tipton St. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. Donations of gently used items are accepted during store hours.

Donations also can be dropped off at donation express sites in southern Indiana communities. In Jackson County, those blue bins are at Jackson County Park, 416 E. Walnut St., Brownstown; CountryMark Fast Stop convenience store, 5307 U.S. 31., Crothersville; Freetown Community Center, 6683 N. Union St., Freetown; Walmart Supercenter parking lot, 1600 E. Tipton St., CountryMark Fast Stop convenience store, 101 Community Drive, and Jackson County Public Library, 303 W. Second St., all in Seymour; and Marathon gas and food mart, 11786 E. State Road 250, Uniontown.

Donations are tax-deductible.

For information about the Seymour store, call 812-522-4394.

For information about Goodwill of Southern Indiana, visit goodwillsi.org.

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