Kids & Family
- Last Updated on Monday, 01 July 2013 01:08
The Girl Scout “Bronze Award” is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes the girls’ leadership and planning skills that are required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in their community.
The members of Girl Scout Troop 50428 of West Jefferson Hills have earned this prestigious award for the work they have done for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. Members of this troop include; Katerina Vergallito, Ashley Werner, Erin Mykich, Julia Freedman and Annika Zangrilli.
Their girls came up with several ideas for projects that could help make our world a better place but after much discussion the girls decided that they wanted to make a difference in the life of the shelter animals of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society. They came up with the name “Project Paws and Claws” and decided that it would involve three specific parts; hosting a pet supply drive, making homemade cat nip sock toys and dog biscuits, and a tour and educational presentation at the Humane Society.
They first organized and hosted the “Paws and Claws Pet Supply Drive”. The girls placed a collection bin at the Pleasant Hills Pet Hospital for one week. Their bin was overflowing with generous donations when they went to pick it up at the end of the week. Then on Saturday, June 15 the girls were stationed at the Pleasant Hills Fire Station to collect donations from the community.
Next, the girls took toddler socks, cotton balls, cat nip and fabric markers and made a basket full of colorful cat toys for the furry residents of the Humane Society. They also got together to make and bake their own pumpkin flavored dog biscuits.
The last part of their project was held on Tuesday, June 18 when the girls were hosted by Dara Krom, Director of Humane Education & Training at the North Shore Shelter in downtown Pittsburgh. The girls were treated to an educational presentation on the history and current workings of the Humane Society. They also had the opportunity to meet the cats who reside there and personally share the cat nip toys they made for them.
This experience and successful completion of their Bronze Award is something that the girls of Girl Scout Troop 50428 will never forget. As the premier leadership experience for girls in the United States, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
