Community Corner

'Troop Effort' Results in Individual Holidays for Nine Girl Scouts

Mayoral recognition in place for Girl Scouts who volunteered at local shelter.

Hopatcong Girl Scouts who volunteered at a local shelter get a day to call their own.

The Girl Scouts in Hopatcong Troop 149 ended their Bronze Award project and received an unexpected perk: their own holiday.

Hopatcong Mayor Petillo attended a township-wide Bridging Ceremony on June 13 and delivered proclamations to each member of Troop 149, dedicating individual days on the calendar to all nine girls for their volunteer work. 

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Their names and days of honor were also presented on the town’s marquee, which displays news and events, and could be seen about a week before the new ‘holidays’ began.

“The girls did hours of community service!” said a Troop parent, Evie Gutierrez. “They made cookies, created posters and did a food drive, (to work at) their Bronze Award.” 

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After careful deliberation (including brainstorming meetings), the girls voted on the most pressing issues of which they could dedicate their time. They then decided to complete their project at the shelter -- painting an outside wall, bringing supplies, and helping to ensure at-risk animals get adopted faster.

Individually, 11-year-old Deja Gutierrez (whose holiday was proclaimed to be June 18) helped create posters for the community service along with her friend and fellow Girl Scout, Jasmine Taddigs (whose holiday was June 20). 

“I really like sketching,” said Deja Gutierrez. “We made a lot of posters and hung them all around school.”

It has been a busy month for Gutierrez, who is winding up a run as the mouse in the Castle Theatre production of Alice in Wonderland, and the recognition she has received on stage has rivaled the attention her troop has received for their tireless work at the Hopatcong Animal Shelter.

The Project’s Heavy Lifting

“It was really a troop effort,” said her mother Evie. “They wanted to raise awareness for the pound, and even help animals get adopted. They took notes of supplies they’d need, and developed posters to make people aware. They (even) sold their Troop cookies in front of the Dunkin Donuts.”

As the girls also noted in their subsequent trips to the pound, many of the costs associated with pet ownership are taken for granted. However, Troop 149 committed all of its resources to help nearby residents stake a claim in the growing trend for animal/adoption awareness.

They did everything from buying pet supplies, to growing cap nip grass, to bringing their cheerful personas to the locale to provide input and complete tasks as necessary.

The duration of the project’s ‘heavy lifting’ included three trips to the shelter, one being for observation, another that took up the majority of a Saturday afternoon and another trip to deliver goods they purchased with fundraised money.

“They went to the store with their money raised, and had a budget and a list, with necessities for the pound,” said Evie.

What’s Lies Ahead?

In the upcoming year, the newly confirmed ‘Cadets’ will need to complete a similar project for their Silver Award, which also is done collectively.

“The next year doesn’t start up until September,” said Evie. “But they’ll also begin to take more of an active role in the meetings, doing planning and preparation, and will once again work to achieve their award.”

“As Cadets, we’ll pretty much be able to run the meetings by ourselves, and make choices,” said Deja. “It’s very exciting; and, we’re always looking for new members!”

Deja’s fellow Troop members include: Charlotte Whritenour, Elizabeth Miller, Taddigs, Jordan Kellish, Kelly Nelson, Nicole Parks, Olivia Vasquez and Sofia Mantila.


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