Girl Scouts Spotlight- Celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Month

April is a time to honor the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to bettering our community. As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month, we would like to shine a special spotlight on our community’s young girls who embrace the values of leadership service, and empowerment through Girl Scouts. This collaborative effort was led by our site coordinators at Southwest Middle, Southern Middle and Tyson-Schoener Elementary Schools in the Reading School District.  Their enthusiasm, dedication, and teamwork are making a real difference, not just in their lives, but in the world around them.

The younger Girl Scout troop at Tyson-Schoener is also thriving, with 26 girls in the K-2 program and 22 girls in the 3rd and 4th-grade program. These girls have already enjoyed exciting activities like Family Day at the movies, STEM Night, the creation of a step dancing team, and marching in local parades. Their cookie sales have raised over $3,000, which will help fund a special trip to Nova Trampoline Park.

At Southwest Middle School, Girl Scout Troop 11195 is proving the power of giving back. With 14 fifth-grade girls involved this year, these young women have taken on an important cause close to their hearts: helping abandoned animals find loving homes. After learning about several local nonprofits, the troop made the heartfelt decision to raise funds for the Animal Rescue League of Berks County through their cookie sale.

Meanwhile, Southern’s Troop of 17 girls has also been making a difference. They’ve supported various local initiatives, including creating cards for shelters, helping with the Knight of Dreams celebration, and supporting a local food pantry. The most remarkable growth has been in their bond as a troop—they’ve learned valuable lessons in teamwork, respect, empathy, overcoming initial hesitations and forming lasting friendships.

These girls are not just selling cookies or earning badges—they are building confidence, developing leadership skills, and learning the importance of serving others.  These Girl Scouts are part of a sisterhood that is dedicated to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

Let us appreciate volunteers by celebrating these young women leaders who are already committed to making a difference. We have confidence that they will continue to grow and inspire others around them, leaving a lasting impact on their communities and the world. Here’s to the future of these incredible young leaders!