Buffalo’s Girl Scouts are getting into the act of helping to make our refugees feel more at home. On Saturday, November 7, Girl Scout Troop 30623 (11 girls, ages 6-16, and three leaders) set out to tackle a project that involved cleaning a house and preparing it for a refugee family that would soon be moving in. The scout troop worked with Journey’s End refugee services to identify the house and the family that would benefit from the work. Along with cleaning, the girls set up furniture and provided home goods and decorations they collected and made. The “Home Again” project helped to make one refugee family feel welcome and at home upon moving in.
“I know we are doing a good thing because we are helping someone who lived in a place where they weren’t treated nicely,” said Ruby Wilson, a Brownie. “We are very pleased and surprised at how people came together to donate and support our project,” commented Dona King, a troop leader. “Our troop wants to inspire other people to help with other refugee families that are coming to America,” stated Evie Parker, a Junior Girl Scout.
“I am so proud of the girls for using their sweet hearts and big, beautiful brains to think of ways to help our community, and then doing months of work to make those ideas a reality,” said Lynn King, Troop Leader. “Our city is a wonderful place, with organizations like Journey’s End and community members who will donate so generously to help people coming to our town feel welcome and comfortable. The girls even wrote our press release because they hoped to inspire other groups to get involved. We’ve already heard from some people who are interested in also doing a Home Again Project with Journey’s End. We helped a family start a new life, and we showed others how they can help too. What’s better than that? This was our fourth and biggest service project so far this year. It’s going to be a beautiful year of character-building and scouting at its best!”