qualifying volunteer hours performed in a twelve-month period. Helmly earned the Silver. That means that she performed a minimum 250 hours of service to the community. In Helmly’s case, it was actually 287 hours. Naturally, the community service Helmly did was as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, which means that she had lots of help from little (and not so little) hands in providing service to a worthy community. And let’s not forget the vital assistance of her co-leader and mother, Margaret Gooding, her devoted husband, Craig, and four year-old son, Jackson. Helmly and the girls participated in many fun and wonderful things like Operation Christmas Child that sends shoeboxes of hygiene items, small toys and other comforts and necessaries to needy children through Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization. In another Christmas activity, one much more local in scope, the girls in the troop decided not to exchange gifts with each other and instead brought in new baby items which they donated to the Rincon Pregnancy Care Center. Then there was the clothing and blanket drive to benefit Safe Haven Women’s Shelter in Statesboro. The troop decided to use proceeds from the sale of those amazing Girl Scout Cookies. Each scout was given a certain amount of money to select ten hygiene and kitchen items from the local Dollar Tree Store, which the troop leaders later delivered to the shelter. The troop engaged in a 15-hour service project helping the USO in their mission to U.S. service personnel. The girls made cookies and cards, and again took their cookie proceeds to the Dollar Tree where they purchased small items soldiers might need while traveling. They then took a trip to the USO and visited with a soldier. Of course, the Girl Scouts depend on scout mothers and the greater community for volunteers, cookie sales, donations,
and service partnerships. One notable example of community support is New Life Flowers & Gifts in Rincon, who provided the scouts with supplies and instruction in making big yellow bows for their field trip to the National Guard Armory in Springfield. “People in our community are always willing to help Girl Scouts,” said Helmly. “I’ve never had anyone tell me no, they wouldn’t help us.” These are just some of the many kindnesses which Jennifer Helmly and her team of dedicated young ladies showed to deserving people near and far. One particularly interesting activity the scouts engaged in was a Thinking Day. On Thinking Day the scouts think about other Girl Scouts around the world. They share ice cream sundaes at an Around the World Party. The different toppings on the sundaes each represent a different country. How cool is that? The birthday of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low is October 31st. Every year the troop holds a special celebration. This past year, Troop 30358 threw a Victorian tea party. The girls wore authentic period dresses, prepared the party and did crafts that girls in the early 1900s would have enjoyed. March 10, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts and their leaders come from all over to participate. Some 5,000 uniformed Girl Scouts are expected to march across the Talmadge Bridge to symbolize the bridging of the first century of Girl Scouting with the next. On March 12th, the actual anniversary of the Girl Scouts, there will be a sunrise service and activities at Forsyth Park. Helmly brings a perspective to her scout leadership that only a mother can. “I tell the girls in my troop that we are a Girl Scout family and that they are sisters,” she said. And the girls just love her. One thanked her for being part of her life. “When I hear something like that I know I’m doing what God wants me to do.” Helmly sees being a Girl Scout
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42 April/May 2011 | Effingham Magazine
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