Lindenhurst Girl Scout Troop Collects Food for Local Pantries

Junior Girl Scout Troop 1160 might be small, but the ambition of its girls is not.

In fact, the tiny Lindenhurst troop with a membership of only three girls, took on the task of running a food drive at the Stop and Shop in nearby West Babylon last Sunday.

“They collected six full carts of food, a gift card and cash,” noted Marlene Hayden, troop leader to Nicole Hayden, Nicole Mack and Alexandra Garafola. They were assisted by Alexandra’s mother, April Garafola.

“The girls did a fantastic job, and should be very proud of themselves. And, of course, thank you to everyone who was so kind and generous!” Hayden said.

All of what the troop collected on was donated to Lindenhurst food pantries.

It was split between “ Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry [at ] on Wellwood Avenue,” she said.

The reason the troop chose to conduct a food drive was to help it on its way to earning a Bronze Award, Hayden explained.

“And Stop and Shop was chosen as a prime location because of proximity [to the troop's Harding Avenue base], and also because if the weather was bad, then we would’ve been able to stand in the foyer,” she added.

However, it was clear after the troop’s concentrated four-hour effort Sunday not only the weather but also the generosity of Stop and Shop customers were on the troop’s side – to the benefit of those in need.