Southern Tier Girl Scouts Spread Love With Ukrainian Relief Effort

Southern Tier Girl Scouts have stepped in a big way and spread love across the world through a special Ukrainian Relief Effort.

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Girl Scouts from the NYPENN Pathways Council, which includes young ladies from 24 counties in New York and two counties in Pennsylvania took it upon themselves to organize what turned out to be an incredibly successful supply drive to assist with relief efforts in Ukraine.

In March of 2022, the GSNYPENN Cadette Troop 60500 of Holy Cross in Dewitt had the opportunity to meet with New York Governor Kathy Hochul at the State Capitol in Albany. The trip was part of their work on their Girl Scouts Democrazy badge. Not only did the girls get to meet with Governor Hochul, but they presented Hochul with some items that had special meaning to the Girl Scouts.

In return, Hochul presented each girl their own New York State Challenge Coin. The girls say the challenge coin inspired them to step up and do more, including starting a supply drive to help the people of Ukraine.

The girls of GSNYPENN Cadette Troop 60500 knew that in order to get the supplies needed, they would need to appeal to the Girl Advisory Board for help. The Girl Advisory Board consists of 13 Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 who advise GSNYPENN CEO, Julie Dale.

The girls then partnered with the Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest Mihai Dubovici “Father Michael” and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Syracuse. From there, they created flyers promoting the drive, worked with council staff, collected donations, and ultimately, created a life-changing event to benefit the people of Ukraine.

Thousands of supplies were donated from across all 26 counties of the council and all through a seed planted by the GAB, Troop 60500, the Jamesville-Dewitt Service Unit.

Close to 100 boxes were filled with medical and personal hygiene items, clothing, feminine food, and food. All donations will be sent from New Jersey to Ukraine later this month.