Girl Scouts donate Christmas gift baskets to Kingdom House

Christmas came early to the residents and staff members at Kingdom House in St. Louis.  Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, GSEM, donated at least 12 Christmas baskets to the facility, located just south of downtown. Each basket had a theme, such Mexican or camping.

"It helps us bring hope to clients who live at an everyday stress level most of us don't understand," said Scott Walker, Kingdom House's executive director, of the brightly decorated baskets.

Staff members brought the baskets into the facility's gymnasium and arranged them on tables. Staff members put the baskets to immediate use as clients arrived. Community service is an integral part of Girl Scouting. Annually, GSEM provides one million hours of service, valued at $19 million.

"This is another wonderful example of how the Girl Scout family always provides community service, this time with food baskets for Kingdom House day care moms who were delighted to receive them and couldn’t wait to take them home and start cooking!” said Donna K. Martin, chief executive officer of GSEM.

"I'm the mother of five children and I need all of this," said Donyale Young. "I'm having Christmas Eve breakfast and I'm seeing a lot of breakfast food here. It's everything I need, thank God."

"It's nice to be part of an organization that does so much to give back to the community and this was a great opportunity for us to help," said Breann Muich, communications manager. "I know everyone put a lot of time, thought and effort into making the baskets extra special for the families."

Kingdom House believes in transformation...from the inside out. Through a variety of services, childcare, food & clothing assistance, job training, youth and teen programs and Senior Companions, Kingdom House helps thousands yearly to achieve self-sufficiency and gain economic independence. Since 1902, Kingdom House has been transforming the lives of individuals in St. Louis.