170 Local Girl Scouts Team Up For MLK Day Of Service Event At Cathedral Kitchen

CAMDEN, NJ — More than 200 Girl Scouts and adult volunteers rallied to help the hungry in Camden County with a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Girl Scouts representing 17 local troops recently volunteered their time to make food and prepare place settings at Cathedral Kitchen in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Cathedral Kitchen is Camden's largest emergency food provider.

The Girl Scouts of Service Unit 303 represents Girl Scouts in Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Merchantville. The Service Unit had not been able to do their MLK Day of Service event for several years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

Jayda W., a 4th-grader in Troop 30476, said her troop represented King's "kind actions for the community."

“Today’s activity represented Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream for equality and to help others," Jayda said.

The Girl Scouts assembled turkey and cheese sandwiches, made utensil packets, and decorated placemats for Cathedral Kitchen's guests, according to Service Unit 303, which is part of the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ.

"What we did today was important to help people who might not have enough food,” said Olivia G., a Girl Scout in Troop 30351 and a 1st-grad student.

Brooklyn G., a 6th-grader in Troop 30789, said it's important to help in your community.

"All people deserve to have food and people who care about them," Brooklyn said. "This event helped with that.”

Girls from all six levels of Girl Scouting, representing kindergarten through 12th grade, participated. In total, 170 Girl Scouts and 40 adult volunteers worked for three hours and made 350 sandwiches, 500 utensil packets, and a total of 200 decorated placemats.

It felt good to help people, said 10th-grader Ilanna B., who is in Troop 30351.

"It was rewarding to take part in a day of service," Ilanna said.

Her fellow troop member Leah H., also a 10th grader, explained why she enjoys being a part of Girl Scouts. "It’s something bigger than myself and gives me the opportunity to make a difference in my community," Leah said.