Listen to this article
 MAJOR DOUG WILLIAMS and Silvano Telleche are shown with Girl Scouts at a clothing drive benefitting the San Diego ARC. |
Raise money for relief
To help The Salvation Army’s disaster relief effort in New York City, Girl Scout troops from Polytechnic School in Pasadena, Calif., held a bake sale. These second, third, and fourth-graders demonstrated that “you are never too young to make a difference.”
The event was a success, and afterwards, five of the girls who participated arrived at the Pasadena Tabernacle and presented Captain Ed Loomis with a check for $1,274!
President honors youth
Twenty-five young people from the Lancaster, Calif., corps recently achieved the President’s Student Service Challenge Award. They received pins and certificates signed by President George W. Bush for their outstanding contribution to the community through the League of Mercy program.
Four teenagers, Jose Ibara, Mathew Bromily, Michelle Luschenat and David Catchings earned special honors, receiving the Gold Award from Bush.
Captain Jolene Hodder, divisional League of Mercy secretary, said, “I am so proud of these children for their hard work and commitment.”
San Diego ARC and Girl Scouts do a good turn
The Be Your Best and Do a Good Turn clothing drive, held jointly by the San Diego Salvation Army ARC and the San Diego-Imperial Council Girl Scouts, generated enough donations to clothe an Army a very large Army!
This community-wide effort resulted in 101 tons of donations, an increase of nearly 40% over last year’s record. It was the fifth time that Girl Scouts and The Salvation Army have partnered on this countywide program, and was by far the most successful. More than 8,500 Girl Scouts participated in the event, as did hundreds of people in the communities surrounding each of the seven donation sites.
Many businesses also joined in the action, holding employee clothing drives. A number of corporate sponsorships were enlisted, including SDG&E, the presenting sponsor.
As part of the program, Girl Scouts also toured The Salvation Army ARC facilities, including the recycling/work therapy center. They saw how donated goods are recycled and readied for thrift store sales, which support the recovery program. Girls heard from the residents of the ARC and learned not only how drugs and alcohol affected their lives and those of their loved ones, but also how the residents are benefiting from the ARC rehabilitation program and what they now plan to do with their lives.
“Meeting some of the beneficiaries of Be Your Best and Do a Good Turn and seeing where their donations go helped Girl Scouts clearly see how their efforts really can make a difference,” Major Doug Williams, San Diego ARC administrator said.
— Marlene Gerber
