In the small town of Hermon, there’s a group of seventh grade Girl Scouts who every month are living out their organization’s promise to help people at all times.
In fact, you can find most of Girl Scout Cadet Troop 1285 waiting tables, filling water glasses and removing empty dishes at the town’s monthly senior citizen meal held at the Hermon Elementary School.
“This was a good opportunity for them to learn to do things out of the goodness of their hearts with no expectations other than it feels good to help someone else,” said Stephanie Campbell, leader of Girl Scout Cadet Troop 1285.
It all started back in January when the town’s senior recreation program needed a few extra hands at their senior citizen meal held on the third Wednesday of the month, from 6 to 7:30p.m. Campbell asked her nine scouts if they wanted to volunteer and when they agreed, she herself gave them a few waitressing tips and pointers.
“I waitressed for a lot of different restaurants and it’s a good skill to know. The girls ask people if they want more coffee, tea or water. They learn to serve from the left side and not to interrupt people if they are talking,” Campbell said. “Plus, I think it’s good for them to interact with their elders because their [own] grandparents aren’t alive or they don’t live around the corner.”
Carol Edgecomb and her husband have attended a few of the senior meals where they not only enjoyed the food, but also the company.
“Being fairly new in Hermon, this has given us the opportunity to meet other people in the community,” explained Edgecomb. “The Girl Scouts are so polite and do a marvelous job. If I was their leader, I’d be very proud.”
Approximately 40 people attend the monthly meal where for just $3 residents 50 years of age or older are treated to a hot meal, homemade dessert and a drink.
“Word of mouth on how good the food is is getting out there, because it’s growing,” said Edgecomb.
Campbell and her troop aren’t just helping to feed the town’s retirees; they’re also supplying food to the Hermon Middle School Food Cupboard. Cadet Troop 1285 has been able keep the food cupboard stocked through cash donations they’ve collected and food drives. Campbell is working hard to stretch the last remaining dollars the Girl Scouts have raised in order to keep supplies on the shelf until the end of the school year. But she admits it is getting a little scarce.
“It’s been a good project for the girls to get involved in to help their fellow classmates and to realize not everyone has a hot meal on the table,” said Campbell. “[Food insecurity] is definitely a problem, so I feel if we can take care of it in this school maybe we can pass it on to all three schools.”
The members of Girl Scout Cadet Troop 1285 are well on their way to earning their community service pins by doing one good deed after another, not only to help their community, but also to fulfill their scout’s promise to help people at all times.
Those wishing to make a donation to the food cupboard can send an email to hmsfoodcupboard@gmail.com. For more information on the senior citizen monthly meal, contact senior program director Janis Dow at dowj@hermon.net.
Correction: This story contained a quote that incorrectly stated that teachers have access to a list of students receiving free or reduced lunch. They do not.
