Girl Scouts Find It's Better to Give than to Receive

Girl Scouting is about discovery, adventure and sisterhood, but it’s also about caring and sharing. And during the holidays, when most kids are thinking about what they’ll be getting, many Girl Scouts in West Orange have focused on what they’ll give to others in the community.

For example, the Daisies and Brownies in Troop 20533 at Mt. Pleasant School made ornaments for the holiday gift baskets that go to West Orange families served by the Mayor’s Sunshine Fund. Each year, the township receives a list of families that are struggling. With donations of toys and other gifts for children, baskets for the families are assembled and delivered in time for Christmas. 

Patience Cillo-Smith, a Brownie in third grade, and Justice Cillo-Smith, a Daisy in Kindergarten, the daughters of Troop Co-leader Gwen Cillo-Smith, recently dropped off a large bag of decorated gingerbread ornaments to Estrella Bianchi in the township’s Social Services & Welfare Department. Both Patience and Justice said they felt sad knowing kids in their community might not get any gifts without help, but added that donating ornaments made with love by their troop really made them feel good.

A service project Girl Scout troops all over town have participated in for years is the Jersey Cares Coat Drive. Back in 2006, Chris Moraes, who was then West Orange Service Unit Manager, contacted the Newark-based service organization to help collect new and gently used coats for distribution to the needy throughout the area. She organized a “sort-off” at Redwood School, and scouts from all the participating troops brought the coats they’d collected, sorted and bagged them. Chris then carted them in a rented U-haul to Jersey Cares. 

We collected 223 coats that year. Procedures changed a bit over the years, and we no longer have the “sort-off.” But the coat drive continues as a major service project for the West Orange scouts. This year, collection bins located at most of the elementary schools in town and Our Lady of Lourdes Church were filled up with about 300 coats donated by the community. In six years, we’ve collected close to 1,800 coats.

Another way Girl Scouts share their gifts and talents this time of year is visiting assisted living residences, singing carols and spreading holiday cheer. Last week, all five troops at Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy — sporting Santa hats or reindeer antlers — travelled to Canterbury Village on Mt. Pleasant Avenue, across from the West Orange Public Library.

Visiting the seniors has become a Christmas tradition for the scouts at Blessed Pope John. One resident, Charles, reminded us that at least one troop from the school has come to Canterbury Village and caroled for each of the five years he’s lived at the residence. The difference this year, however, was the size of our group. Close to 30 girls from each level of Girl Scouting — Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors — squeezed into the community room to lift their voices in song.

The program began with “Jingle Bells,” and concluded with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”  In between were contemporary holiday songs plus many traditional favorites, and residents often sang along. In fact, two ladies sitting nearby saw some extra song sheets in my hand and asked to borrow them! At “Silent Night,” everyone in the room seemed to join in, with Charles’s voice particularly resonant. (On a past visit, he’d told me of happy memories singing the song in his church.) 

At the conclusion of the caroling, the girls mingled with the residents, presenting them with home-made cards and Christmas crafts. All of the girls, especially the younger Daisies and Brownies, came away beaming, finding it hard to contain their pride and excitement. Ethel Price, the Activity Director at Canterbury Village who has made the girls feel welcome year after year, remarked at the great participation and wider range of scouts this year, and she thanked each one for coming.

As the girls prepared to leave, I stopped over to say goodbye to Charles. Firmly grasping my hand, he said, “It’s wonderful to have you and the girls here again.” 

“I so enjoyed your singing, Charles. It’s truly the best part, having all of you join in,” I replied. “We’ll be back again next year. See you then.” 

“God willing,” he said, squeezing my hand. “You have a very Merry Christmas!”

Wishing all Patch readers and their families a Happy Holiday — Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa — and a Blessed and Happy New Year!

Clare Silvestri Krakoviak is leader of Girl Scout Troop 20723 at St. Joseph’s Church/Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy.

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