Submitted by Jessica Spangler

Metro Denver

Denver

With help from her multi-level Girl Scout troop, Senior Makayla completed the Journey “Mission: Sisterhood.” As her sisterhood issue, she chose improving relationships between mothers and their children, specifically those under additional stress due to homelessness. She wanted family art projects to help children be calmer and more cooperative with their mothers by building their relationship. With her troop, she created a beautifully painted wooden container to install at the local domestic violence shelter, Arising Hope. The troop then filled the painted container with art supplies they purchased with funds they raised as part of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. A set of laminated instructions for three art projects that would encourage mothers and children to bond were included, and Makayla wrote a personal cover letter explaining the goal of her project and inspiring mothers to do the projects together with their children as a family.

When asked “What have you learned from the troop that you can use in your daily life?”

Makayla responds “It’s easy to make friends.”

She said sisterhood is important because it’s nice to help people, and they will be there for you when you need help.

Makayla and her troop expanded their network when they visited a horse rescue and learned how a woman became the owner of a nonprofit and advocates for horses. She met Keith, who volunteers at the nonprofit Arising Hope shelter and happily agreed to accept donations of art supplies for Makayla’s project. Learning about these careers was eye opening for Makayla, who wants to be a baker. She said she would like to bake for a shelter to serve its residents. “Our project is meaningful because it will help other people.”

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