SOUTH SHORE YMCA

Local Girl Scouts Rise Up During Pandemic to Serve their Community

Posted: Jan. 25, 2021 Support the South Shore YMCA

QUINCY, MA – JANUARY 22, 2021: The year 2020 was a time of trauma and uncertainty for our community, but especially for children. The pandemic left many kids feeling isolated and lost, separated from their schools, teachers, friends, coaches, and mentors, and disconnected from the social and educational connections they need to grow, learn and thrive.

Compounding these feelings of distress is the anxiety felt in many homes as parents and caregivers worry about unemployment, or struggle to find remote learning and childcare solutions when returning to work.

Through it all, our children have shown amazing resiliency and strength. Children rediscoverd how to play outside safely, rode their bikes, connected through technology, and found ways to rise above the trauma.

Some even understood the extraordinary burden that COVID-19 has placed on people in their community and wanted to help serve their fellow neighbors: families who lost loved ones, people who found themselves turning to food pantries and non-profit organizations like the YMCA for support.

Coco Ward, a ten-year-old fourth-grader and proud Girl Scout, is one of those children.

Together with her Derby Academy Girl Scout Troop, led by her mom, Heather Ward, Coco and her fellow Girl Scouts devoted 2020 to serving others on the South Shore.

In addition to raising money to support the Scituate Animal Shelter and donating Girl Scout cookies to the South Shore YMCA food pantry, the girls put their heads together to see what else they could do during the holiday season. They ultimately chose to support the South Shore YMCA Holiday Assistance Program and raised money to purchase wish list gifts for children and adults.

“We are really proud of the activities we do together,” said Coco, “Our whole troop adopted a family and we were able to get all the gifts that their kids wanted., like video game controllers and blankets.”

As she helped deliver the gifts to the South Shore YMCA’s “North Pole” in Quincy, she said, “I really have a spark of happiness knowing that we helped a family and were able to deliver these gifts to them.”

That feeling is contagious, and her fellow Girl Scouts feel the same way.

“I like helping others because it makes them happy, and that makes me happy,” said Kenza Maali.

Troop member Estelle Drew added, “I like helping my community because I like seeing people happy because it makes me happy.”

“One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that our troop has engaged, even more, in service efforts,” said Derby Academy Girl Scout Troop Leader, Heather Ward. “It has been hard for the girls to be together during COVID, and our time has been mostly virtual. Service opportunities have allowed us to feel connected, both as a  troop and to the community.”

“Lack of connection is what we are all suffering from right now,” added Ward. “Even if we don’t know the families who we are donating to, the girls feel connected to them, and that makes them feel good.”

Troop Leader Heather Ward delivers donated gifts to South Shore YMCA’s North Pole

Each year, the girls sell cookies and donate them to food pantries like the South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center in Quincy. COVID-19 made it difficult to visit this year, but when they toured the facility virtually in May, they saw how quickly the food pantry was impacted by the pandemic, with lines of visitors having nearly quadrupled their normal size.

“For the girls to see that was powerful,” Ward said. “Service is something we feel deeply about. We love working with the Y. They have amazing community outreach programs and there are always ways for us to get involved and do good.”

“The South Shore YMCA is so thankful for supporters like Heather Ward and her amazing Girl Scout Troop,” said South Shore YMCA Vice President of Development, Mary Orne. “These girls continue to show their generosity all year long as they work to serve others in need. They should feel so proud.”

Although it is a new year, the need continues to grow. “We greatly appreciate the generosity of all those who continue to give to our Y to ensure everyone has food, clothing and support, especially now, as these difficult times we face continue past the holidays,” added Orne.

For information on how you can help the South Shore YMCA Germantown Neighborhood Center Food Pantry support the community during the pandemic, visit ssymca.org/foodpantry.

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About the South Shore YMCA

The South Shore YMCA is a leading charitable organization dedicated to strengthening community through programs that promote healthy spirit, mind, and body. Serving the communities of Quincy, Randolph, Holbrook, Weymouth, Braintree, Milton, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, Norwell, Hanover and beyond, the South Shore Y provides the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive through its services and programs. Financial Assistance is a Y community benefit available to all families in need, applicable to all Y programs and services. To learn more about the South Shore YMCA, visit www.ssymca.org. The South Shore YMCA. The Better You Belongs Here.

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