Cases for Smiles
Something that brings a smile to all of our faces is happy, restful sleep. And what better way to have a good night’s rest, than with a colorful pillowcase, custom made by a local Girl Scout?
Nine Girl Scouts from Troop 465 within the River Valley Service Unit completed their Bronze Award this July after learning all about the positive ways they could impact their community, while simultaneously picking up a new skill! Their project aimed to provide cancer patients with vibrantly colored pillowcases that would bring a smile to their faces. Not only did the experience offer the Girl Scouts invaluable time to spend with ill children in their community, it also gave them the opportunity to try their hands at sewing, which they quickly became experts at.
“This was a valuable experience for the girls, as it taught them about the importance of leadership, teamwork, and making a difference in the world,” says Troop 465 Leader Ashley Durgin.
Ashley says the process of creating something unique that would mentally impact someone struggling in the hospital in a positive way, was a unique and rewarding experience for the troop that also helped them better understand and empathize friends and family under similar circumstances.
“Many of our girls have personal experience with this, as they know someone who has had to spend time in the hospital […] when they saw the impact that their project had on the lives of others, it gave them a sense of purpose and accomplishment,” says Ashley.
Aside from the direct positivity and meaning that came out of their pillowcase deliveries, the girls also gained a handful of skills along the way while planning, organizing, and carrying out tasks to ensure success.
“They have to work with a team of other girls, and they learn how to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and compromise,” says Ashley.
As a leader who has watched several troops and Girl Scouts achieve their Bronze Awards over the years, Ashley believes the journey is one that leaves Girl Scouts with countless life-long skills and memories, not to mention a newfound outlook on the world around them.
“I believe that the Bronze Award is one of the most valuable experiences that a Girl Scout can have,” says Ashley.
