Troop 280 Packs Meals for Asylum Seekers in Saco
March 2, 2023
SACO—Over the course of two days, eight Girl Scouts from Troop 280 packed over 300 traditional meals for refugees experiencing food insecurity in the Saco area. Troop Leader Nichole Brunette first discovered the volunteer opportunity run in the beginning of the school year.
“We received a request from Maine Immigrants Right’s Coalition (MIRC) for anyone interested in potentially helping support refugees coming to Saco,” said Nichole.
The MIRC ethnic-led collaborative meal program runs out of an old restaurant kitchen in Saco and serves hot dishes every afternoon to a nearby hotel currently housing asylum seekers. While volunteering, the girls individually portioned and packed the traditional meals before helping out with dishes and cleaning up from all the cooking.
“I really enjoyed knowing that the food was going to a good cause,” said Ellie, a Junior Scout from Troop 280.
Nichole said that she enjoyed watching her Girl Scouts interact with their local community, and she hopes the rewarding volunteer experience will spark a lifetime of impactful service.
“Our troop seems extremely interested in finding more and more ways to help people and this was just one example of an activity for their age that made them feel really good about being part of their community,” said Nichole.
Are you and your troop interested in volunteering with the MIRC Saco Meal Program? Check out their website and sign up for a timeslot that fits your schedule! They need at least five volunteers per day but encourage participation even when all spots are filled.
