03-20-2007 Girl Scout Troop Teams Up with South Bend Police

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Girl Scout Troop Teams Up with South Bend Police The girls of Singing Sands Girl Scout Council Troop 149 have undertaken a community service project that will help the South Bend Police Department bring comfort to other South Bend children. The troop has decided to augment an existing SBPD outreach program that collects stuffed animals and makes them available to officers who might come into contact with children. "Whether it's just making a friendly first impression or providing a sense of comfort to a traumatized child," commented the SBPD, "the stuffed animals do double duty." The idea for the project stemmed from a decision the Girl Scouts had to make about how to best spend $300 in cookie sale money. "One of their lessons focused on sharing," said Troop Leader Vicky Hollaway. "The girls decided to give back to other kids in the community." The nine girls of Troop 149, who range in age from 9-10 and all attend Prairie Vista School in Granger, will donate to the Police Department the stuffed bears that they build and outfit at the Build-A-Bear store at University Park Mall. During the Build-A- Bear workshop each member of the troop will earn a"Math Whiz"badge.