Treats for veterans
Pictured left to right: Leyna, Charlotte, Franca, Madilyn, Kendall, Ellie, Siri, Flannery, Lili, Raegan, and Elle.
Information and photo provided by Jennifer Calvanese
In a true collaboration with the community, the Brownies from Girl Scout Troop #65517, which includes girls from Timber Trail Elementary, Buffalo Ridge Elementary and Sky View Academy, collected and donated more than 1,000 pounds of candy after Halloween to be shipped to soldiers in state and overseas.
Operation Gratitude received 300 pounds of candy, Soldier’s Angels received 400 pounds of candy and the remainder of the items like granola bars were packaged along with toiletries for homeless veterans in honor of Veterans Day. Those packages will be handed out by Girl Scouts during the upcoming months.
In lieu of a Halloween party, the Troop decided to celebrate the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday (which happens to be October 31) with a gift of service and giving to others. The girls handed out small flyers while they went trick-or-treating, giving them to neighbors and family.
Troop parent Jen Calvanese headed up the project. “The Scouts weren’t involved with a ‘switch witch’ or any other ‘get something for handing over the candy incentive’,” stated Calvanese. “They did it knowing that they were sacrificing the things that they could for someone who is or has given the ultimate sacrifice.”
The girls included a nice card for the overseas troops telling them about Castle Pines and where the treats came from that will be included in their packages.
