Marlton Mayor Awards Local Silver and Bronze Award Girl Scouts

Recognition was given by Mayor Jackie Veasy, Township Council Representative, Heather Cooper, and Marlton Elks Lisa Dever Recording Secretary; Diana Matyas PER (Past Exalted Ruler); Dave Matyas  PVP (Past Vice President).  

 

Ginny Hill, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, also joined the ceremony, which was held at Gibson House. 

 

The Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards encourage girls to identify areas of need, develop a plan, seek resources, and solve a problem in their community.  These are the highest Girl Scout honors that they can achieve at their level of Girl Scouting.  Some detail on their projects is included below. 

 

It is estimated that Girl Scouts dedicate more than 100,000 hours a year to community service in Central and Southern New Jersey.  The Girl Scout program encourages the exploration of ideas and creates opportunities to take action.  These Girl Scouts are an inspiration to the movement. 

 

Congratulations Girl Scouts!

 

  

PROJECTS:     

Silver Award Projects & Recipients  

  

Holiday Gift Bags - Cherry Hill Food Pantry   

Leaders Troop 21097:  Kristen Crossley and Gladys Goire-Colon  

Girl Scout:    Grace Wojtylak  

  

In 2021, the organization that provided holiday gift bags to the Cherry Hill Food Pantry was unable to continue and provide the supplies needed. The gift bags contained a bottle of dish soap and a holiday themed pot holder and dish towel. Grace organized a collection through the Marlton Service Unit and her church, Haddonfield United Methodist Church (HUMC), for the necessary items to provide the Cherry Hill Food Pantry with their annual gifts for their clients. She collected enough supplies to package over 100 bags with decorated holiday tags and then assisted with the distribution to the food pantry clients during the holidays of 2021. After the holiday season, Grace developed a presentation on Food Insecurity for the children of Haddonfield United Methodist Church ages 3 years to 11 years in their Sunday School classes. She provided them with facts on food insecurities, a coloring sheet on the topic, and a slide show. The Holiday Gift bags will be completed annually as a family and youth mission project through HUMC.  

  

Silver  Torch Awards& Recipients  

Leaders Troop 28515:  Betsy Veitch and Elizabeth Baugh   

  

Girl Scouts:   Madelynn Baugh:      Triple Threat Theater  

                       Zoe Steinmetz:          Cherry Hill Public Library  

                      Jeni Veitch:                St. Mary’s Catholic Church   

  

Bronze Award Projects& Recipients  

  

Shelter Donations from Handmade Toys   

Leaders Troop 28714: Joanne Waltrich and Lauren Gulden  

Scouts:  Anaysis Gulden, Danielle Parkhurst, Madeline Van Reed, Rachel Waltrich, Kierra Wang, Gianna Wolfson  

  

Junior troop 28714 wanted to give back to the animals for their Bronze Award Project. After some research and discussion, the girls decided to make dog toys out of strips of fabric knotted together. Scouts are good with knots! The troop bought personalized tote bags (black bags with 'TROOP 28714' in green) to sell to their friends and family, raising money to purchase the fabric. Multiple bolts of discounted fabric were purchased and subsequently cut into inch wide strips that were then tied together, 4 to a toy. The color patterns were interesting and there was a wide variety of stretch to accommodate all levels of puppy play. The finished toys were distributed at the Marlton Rabies Clinic in January. After the clinic, the girls also collected shelter supplies and combined all donations to give to a local animal shelter. The girls were able to donate just under $350.  

  

Therapy Toy Renovation   

Leaders Troop 21107: Nellie Kanjo and Stephanie Hartman  

Girl Scouts:  Evan Baugh, Ella Bernstein, Ashley Capobianco, Leah Frangella, Juliet Gaynor, Amelia Hartman, Peyton Hunley, Emma Landes, Addison Laux, Madison McDermott, Natalie Rogers, Kaylee Seno,  Guilia Tavares, Hope Wojtylak    

  

Girl Scout Troop 21107 worked with the outpatient therapy department at Weisman Children’s in Marlton to assist in the renovation of their therapy toy closets. Weisman Children’s provides therapy services to children between the ages of 0-21.They receive any combination of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and dysphagia (feeding therapy). To assist the patients with participation and meeting their goals, therapists utilize a variety of toys. Through use, play and cleaning, toys break, age and lose their pieces. The outpatient therapy department required renovation of the therapy toy closet, which included modifications for storage and new toys and games for the population served at the site. To assist the outpatient center in their toy renovation, Girl Scout Troop 21107 collaborated with the site manager. They researched age appropriate toys, completed a tour of the site, and assisted with setting up the organization of the new materials at the site. Finally, the troop hosted an education event workshop where they were able to share the knowledge gained from the project. The troop was engaged and excited to work on this project and give back to the community and help children have fun while attending therapy sessions.   

  

The program also honored Deborah Hackman in Memorium  

Deborah Hackman   

December 13, 1958-February 23, 2023   

  

Debbie Hackman was dedication to Girl Scouts.  Deb used her platform as Councilwoman & Deputy Mayor to champion the Girl Scout movement.  She brought a spotlight to the inaugural GSCSNJ RopeRunner Derby held here in Evesham.  Most importantly, Debbie increased recognition of the value and importance of the Gold Award to our township by highlighting the Girls’ achievements at township meetings and our first Gold Award Ceremony in 2018. We will remember Deb for her commitment to Girl Scouts in our community.  

  

About the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey  

Girl Scouts brings their dreams to life and work together to build a better world.  Through programs from Edison to Cape May, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges.   

  

Backed by over 10,000 trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and alums, more than 18,000 Girl Scouts in Central and Southern New Jersey lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.  To learn more about GSCSNJ or to volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.gscsnj.org   

  

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