Girl Scout Troop Hosts Charity Book Collection Event

On Friday, March 1, Cadette Girl Scout Troop 760 of Coventry, hosted a “Reading Around the World” event in the Coventry High School Cafeteria.

The event was part of the "Take Action Project" that the troop participated in to earn the Silver Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting for girls in grades 6-8. 

Troop 760, consisting of sixth and seventh grade girls, identified through research that there are many children in Rhode Island without books readily available to them at home to read. Following this discovery, the decision was made to generate donations to Books Are Wings, a Pawtucket-based organization that puts free, gently used books in the hands of Rhode Island children. Statewide NECAP scores are used by Books Are Wings to target communities whose children will benefit the most from receiving the free books.

After discussing many ideas, the Girl Scouts decided to organize “Reading Around The World", an international education event for Daisy Girl Scouts (kindergarten and first grade). They researched the cultures of England, France, Mexico and China, then created an informational poster board display and craft for each country. 

Upon their arrival, the 21 Daisy Girl Scouts in attendance received lanyard "passports" that were stamped at each country display they visited. The Cadette Scouts from Troop 760 read a book representative of each country to the Daisy Scouts and assisted them in creating their own internationally-themed craft at each stop, also. 

The event was invitation-only for Coventry and West Warwick Girl Scout Troops and admission was a new or gently used book to be donated to Books Are Wings. Troop 760 set out to collect 100 books, but largely exceeded their goal with a final total of 434.

To learn more about or make a donation to Books Are Wings, visit the organization's website at www.booksarewings.org.