Orchard Grove, Girl Scouts Celebrate America’s Grand 250th

This article was written by Sookti Hunnur, a member of Girl Scout Troop 11087 in Shrewsbury.

SHREWSBURY, MA — July 2nd, Troop 11087 and Troop 2016, a GS adult troop, visited Orchard Grove Residence to host July 4th celebrations. Orchard Grove is an assisted senior living facility where elders are cared for with warm hospitality. Miss Marybeth McCarthy, the Senior Activities Director at The Residence , supported thevent plans presented by Miss Natasha, the Co-leader of Troop 11087. Girl Scouts had planned activities like Jeopardy, Ice Cream, and Bingo. This celebration opportunity also gave girls an enriching experience.



The party officially started with Scouts and Miss Natasha demonstrating square dancing. This activity was followed by a photo booth where pictures were taken against a background decorated with balloons in shapes of stars and circles and in colors of red, white, and blue. The photos were taken using a polaroid camera which instantly printed the photos and was a sense of nostalgia for many of the Residents. Bingo was very popular among the Residents as the small prizes sparked friendly competition. The celebration concluded with crafts where fun glasses, hanging ornaments, pins, and simple tokens could be decorated. While crafting, a couple scouts branched off into the memory care unit to connect with the Residents sharing stories and experiences through holiday crafts. To close the day, the Residents were served ice cream with various toppings while they enjoyed a Jeopardy game based on American History.

In appreciation of the event, Miss Marybeth writes, “The Girl Scouts helped create a truly memorable Fourth of July celebration filled with a photo booth, crafts, dancing, and American trivia. Residents shared smiles, laughter, and meaningful connections throughout the day.” A parent volunteer of Troop 11087, Mr. Sridar Mopidevi, expressed his opinion about the festival: “Every volunteer helps turn an ordinary afternoon into a memorable celebration for our residents. America’s 250th birthday reminds us to honor the past while celebrating the people who continue to strengthen our communities every day. Serving our community is one of the best ways to celebrate our nation's birthday. It’s an opportunity for young people to learn that patriotism is shown through kindness and service.”

This was indeed a memorable celebration as Girl Scouts enjoyed spending time to help the community. One of the senior scouts, Lipika Valli Mopidevi, reflected, “It was truly a rewarding experience to connect and spend time with the residents. It was beautiful seeing their faces full of joy while recounting past memories based on the activities we conducted, such as square dancing.” Troops 11087 and Troop 2016 brought the true colors of the celebrations into full swing from the kick-off to the wind-down. Happy 250th America!!!