Local Girl Scouts to Support Troops

A local Girl Scouts troop will host a special event on Saturday, April 30, to support America's troops who are fighting overseas and serving on military bases here at home.

Dubbed "Operation Gratitude," the Girl Scouts of Troop No. 30031 will gather at , at New Brooklyn and Little Mill roads, in Erial, to make cards and write letters to soldiers.

The community is invited to participate in this event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"We are looking forward to getting everyone in the community involved," Troop No. 30031's Kaitlynn Reynolds wrote in an email to Patch. "It only takes a minute to write a 'thank you' or short letter, but it means a lot to those soldiers far away from their families."

The Girl Scouts are seeking donations of TY Beanie Babies and stuffed animals, which soldiers serving abroad can distribute to children they come across in their travels.

"These toys help the soldiers to show the children that they are not the enemy," Reynolds said.

Girl Scouts from Troop No. 30031 will be distributing information about their "Operation Gratitude" program, which includes shipping care packages to the men and women of the U.S. military serving overseas, at the April 30 event.