'Ransacked': Girl Scout's Joyful 'Puzzle Box' Project Damaged At Park

WADING RIVER, NY — An 11-year-old Girl Scout from Shoreham-Wading River's Troop 1186 had her dreams shattered when she returned home from spring break vacation and saw a project that she'd worked on for months, ransacked.

Allison Sanders built a puzzle box — so that families in the community would always have puzzles to share — to earn her Girl Scout Bronze award.

But, her mother Kristine Sanders said, what happened next was devastating.

"While we were away, Allie’s puzzle box was ransacked. There were pieces scattered across the entire playground. It was so heartbreaking that I didn’t have the heart to tell Allie while we were away."

In the midst of the ugliness, Sanders said there was a ray of hope, in the form of two good Samaritans who came forward to help.

"Two of the most amazing people from the community went and cleaned up about 90 percent of the mess," Sanders said. "The rubber bands were replaced, and they took the time to wrap each box in plastic wrap. My husband and I went this morning and did the rest, and he added an eye hook to the box."

Watching her daughter's face when she told her the news tore at her mother's heart, Sanders said. But her daughter's invincible spirit shone through. "I told the girls after school today what happened and they immediately wanted to go and clean up more. Allie grabbed some puzzles from the stash we have at home to refill the box. So we taped them, put rubber bands on them and wrapped them."

She added: "Allie was crushed that someone would do such a harsh thing but I reminded her that not everyone is harsh and hurtful — and that these two beautiful people went and cleaned up a lot of it to help her, and us, while we were away."

Allie, she said, felt better after she took her to the park and they cleaned up some more — and she restocked the box.

If she had a message to share after what took place, Sanders said: "Maybe just to be kind and caring — respectful. Allie was really, really hurt."

The project was the culmination of determination and hard work.

In October, Allison met with elected officials ,who congratulated her on achieving her Bronze Award. The Bronze Award is the highest honor that a Girl Scout Junior can earn. Requirements include donating 20 hours of community service to complete the project.

The idea behind "Allie’s Puzzle Box: Free Puzzle Library" is for people to trade puzzles they've completed, donating them and placing them in the Puzzle Box, located at Sylvan Avenue Park in Miller Place.

Recently, Allie reached out on social media to ask for some new puzzles to replenish those in the box she built to share them.

Sanders, Allie's mom, is the coordinator and treasurer for the Shoreham-Wading River Girl Scout troop. Her daughter, Allison, is in 6th grade at Rocky Point Middle School, Sanders said.

Speaking with Patch, Allie explained why she decided to create a puzzle box for her Bronze Award project.

"It was for my love of puzzles," she said. "I started doing them when I was two years old."

When planning the puzzle box, Allie said she went to Home Depot to get supplies to build the box.
"My dad had a lot of things to use also since he is handy in that kind of work," she said.

Allie said because she loved puzzles, she wanted to share that love with the community — and also to help people, who might not be able to afford them, to have puzzles.

The puzzle box, Allie believes, was a great idea. "Puzzles are fun, and this gives other kids opportunities to do other puzzles. They can swap out ones they have done maybe a million times for brand-new ones!"

The most rewarding part, Allie said, has been learning how much people share her love of puzzles. "People from the community care; they help me keep it filled, and keep it clean and neat," she said. "I like how the community helps me when it's almost empty. They are right there to help fill it back up."

But, Allie added, "I am always in need of puzzles!" The puzzles can either be dropped off at the puzzle box or you can contact Sanders by emailing su69@gssc.us.

Sanders said, as a mom and a Girl Scout leader, seeing her daughter achieve her goals has been deeply meaningful. "My husband and I couldn't be happier to see her do this and succeed."

She added: "Watching her eyes light up every time we go and check on the puzzle box and seeing how full it is and checking the puzzles out — seeing what one she might want to do next. She reorganizes it every time we go. I couldn't be any prouder of her!"
Girl Scouts is a great way to get involved with the community, Sanders believes. "It brings people together; we help people when it's needed and participate in community events when possible."
And the experience is life-changing for the girls, Sanders said. "It gives them the experience of community service. When they are older, it helps them with public speaking and shows them how to become more confident and comfortable — not only with themselves but with others."
Looking ahead, Sanders said: "I hope, not just for my daughters, but the rest of my girls in both my troops, and for all current Girl Scouts and future Girl Scouts, that they continue all the way through. My personal experience with Girl Scouts was amazing. My memories will last me a lifetime, and I hope I'm creating that for them. Keep reaching for the stars because you all can do it if you put your mind and heart to it."