Along with selling cookies, Girl Scouts are working toward making a difference in the world.

Girl Scout troop 20534 is working towards it’s final achievement, the Gold Award. The troop includes seniors Savannah Jones, Kaity Rhea, Eileen Trasher and Miranda Madden.  

To earn the Gold Award, the scout must create a plan to solve a problem in their community. According to Jones, the project takes approximately 80 hours. There are benefits to earning the Gold Award, such as college scholarships, better job offers and a headstart in the military.

For her project, Jones is creating “blessing boxes” for public buildings.  

“You put nonperishable items in it, stuff people could take, if they don’t feel comfortable going to [a food shelter] or asking someone,” Jones said.

Thrasher is making pillows for crash victims helping to relieve pain.

“[The Gold Award means] you want to make a difference and have people follow in your footsteps,” Thrasher said.

Rhea is sewing chemotherapy port pillows. The pillow attaches to patient’s seat belt so it won’t rub against the port in their chest.

Madden is organizing care packages for kids in foster care.

“I’m going to gather donations of small backpacks and duffle bags, filling them with age-appropriate items,” Madden said. “Many children in foster care only have trash bags or pillowcases to carry their things from place to place. Each child who receives a bag will not only get what’s in the bag, but will get to keep the bag for their belongings.”

The troop agrees one of their favorite things about Girl Scouts is the friendships.

“The thing I like most about Girl Scouts is the bonding time with my troop,” Jones said “[It’s] what we’ve had for the last 12 years; getting to have them as family.”