Girl Scout Troop Adopts Another Troop a World Away

Over the next few weeks this column will feature many of the different Girl Scout troops around Glen Ellyn. This week we take note of a troop that shares their sweetness with others a world away. 

These girls have contributed to various local organizations but perhaps one of their most amazing contributions has been adopting a Girl Scout troop in Afghanistan.

“The girls sent the other troop things they wished for them. Some of them put things like freedom and others put video games and bicycles. It was a wide range of selflessness,” said Elizabeth Lewis, troop 42066 leader.

Among the items, were things Lewis said American children take for granted. Lewis said this large group of girls are always paying it forward. 

The girls have contributed through various events such as painting bird houses for the elders of the St. Petronille church, creating religious magnets and hosting an Easter Egg hunt, reciting the pledge of allegiance before a recent Village Board meeting, growing herbs inside of eggshells to enhance ecological sustainability, painting store windows around town to celebrate Halloween, participating in a Christian Youth Theater Mom & Me behind-the-scenes event, and creating and hanging posters to thank service providers around town like the police and volunteer fire department. Lewis advised that most of these events were done throughout this past school year.

“The girls are amazing!” she said.

A large interest for the program comes from girls at St. Petronille Catholic School, which has 42 girls enrolled in Girl Scouts.

Noting the differences between her troop and some others in the area, Lewis said, “I kind of really like the craft stuff that includes a service aspect. The girls seem to as well.”

This particular group of girls banded together as a troop two years ago, at the beginning of their kindergarten school year and have done many things to benefit the local community.

For all their hard work the troop (and their moms) celebrated leveling up to Brownies at a 'Mom & Me Tea' on  May 23.   The girls will work toward earning 'Try-It' badges as they commence their Brownie-level Girl Scouting careers.

“[The girls] LOVE it! They’re very excited to start Try-Its next year,” exclaimed Lewis about the girls’ feelings toward service projects.