Girl Scout Organization Honoring First Troop of Homeless Girls

Girl Scout Cookie Crunch” by Sheila Herman licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: NPR

A Girl Scout troop in New York City has been named the first troop in the organization’s 105 year history to cater exclusively to homeless girls.

The two dozen girls of Troop 600, all of whom live in a hotel run by the city’s Department of Homeless Services, have studied topics and learned skills that are taught in other troops, including the history of women’s suffrage and first aid.

“I think my biggest goal here is to try to break that stigma of homelessness,” said troop leader and founder Giselle Burgess.

“I try to stress the fact that they are just like any other Girl Scouting troop,” she added.

Due to the success of the troop, the city of New York plans to invest $1.1 million to expand Troop 6000 to 15 shelters and provide education to 500 girls.

Read full story at: NPR

Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News
Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News