Merrick Girl Scouts Volunteer at Soup Kitchen

Girl Scout Troop 2162, Merrick's third grade Lakeside/Birch Brownie troop, completed a two-part community service project Saturday by getting a tour of the Mary Brennan INN Soup Kitchen in Hempstead. 

The first part of the community service was collecting much-needed shower items, such as travel size shampoo and conditioner bottles, soaps and towels.  Then they sorted everything into individual shower bags to bring to the INN in Hempstead.  The location is one of 19 operated by The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network) on Long Island, consisting of soup kitchens, emergency shelters and long-term housing programs.

The soup kitchens feeds more than 5,500 people per day, according to their website,  but the Hempstead location is the only soup kitchen that provides showers.  The showers accommodate 40-50 people a day and so travel size items and towels for shower bags are in great need. 

The Hempstead location also feeds 400-500 people per day, and for those who don't actually eat at the shelter, groceries and bagged lunches are distributed.  Girl Scout Troop 2162 also collected and brought food to the shelter on Friday.

Troop leaders Aimee Markowitz and Deborah Cohn do at least one big community service project each year.  Last year, they fixed and planted flowers near the Welcome to Merrick sign on Merrick Road.

"This year was a fantastic learning experience for the girls," Markowitz said.  "They learned that there are a lot of people that need their help and they felt good helping them.  That's what Girl Scouts are about."

The troop may head back to the INN next year because when the girls are 10 years old, when they will be allowed to be more hands-on at the soup kitchen by actually sorting shower bags and groceries. 

(Editor's Note: This article was submitted by troop leader Aimee Markowitz.)