Scouts helping others

Being a Girl Scout isn’t just about selling cookies.

“We get to help people too,” 8-year-old Krystal Lasley said.

As a member of Troop 6234 in Seymour, Lasley recently participated in the Good Turn for Goodwill Service Project.

“I brought in two bags full of stuff, like toys and baby dolls and clothes I don’t need anymore,” Lasley said. “I hope someone else needs it.”

Recently, the troop dropped off donations at Goodwill BridgePointe Services in Seymour. In return for their good deed, each girl bringing in two bags of items received a special Goodwill patch.

Store manager Cheryl Wingler said she was touched by the girls’ desire to help others.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” she said of the project. “It’s such a great help to us. These donations will be put in our store for sale and the money it generates will go to providing services to children and adults with disabilities and disadvantages.”

Elena Brown, 7, said she didn’t have to look too hard to find enough stuff to donate.

“I cleaned my room and found 10 bags full,” she said.

“Being a Girl Scout is so much fun,” Brown added. “You get to sell cookies and play games and be with your friends.”

All 18 troops in Jackson County as well as scouts in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott, Washington, Jennings, Lawrence, Orange and Crawford counties are collecting donations for Goodwill, including gently used clothing, household goods and toys through the end of February.

The more donations they collect, the better. Girls will receive special patches for bringing in 25 to 50 bags and for 75 bags or recruiting a business to run a donation drive. The troop that collects the most donations wins a free pizza party.

Girls from Troop 6234 who are participating are Brown, Kaylee Eckleman, Rylee Knutson, Lasley, Rachel Hearn, Credence Coffey, Katie and Mary Abernathy and Erica McCormick.

An attitude of selflessness and civic responsibility are what girls gain from being involved in scouts and projects such as Good Turn for Goodwill, troop leader Stephanie Brown said.

“We’re glad we could be a part of this project,” she said. “The girls have done a good job of collecting stuff to donate.”

Coffey, 7, said she likes being a Scout because of all the other girls in her troop.

“You get to meet new people and do fun things,” she said.

Jessica Blevins, donations and product services coordinator with Goodwill, said programs such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are good ways to get kids involved with giving back to their community.

“It allows them to be contributive members of society, and hopefully they will remember what it’s like to help others and they will continue that service when they get older.”

Blevins explained that Goodwill distributes clothing vouchers to local agencies, including Anchor House, Human Services Inc., Turning Point, Boys & Girls Club of Seymour and Girls Inc. of Jackson County.

Knutson, 7, said being a Girl Scout is “really fun.”

“You get to help people and can earn patches,” she said.

Hearn, 7, said Girl Scouts is a learning experience.

“You get to learn all kinds of stuff, help out and sell cookies,” she said.

How to help

Anyone wanting to help Jackson County Girl Scouts earn their Goodwill patch as well as people with disabilities within the community may drop off donations at the Seymour Goodwill Retail and Donation Center at 1857 E. Tipton St. from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday or from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.