Even the smallest hands can make a big difference.
Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912. In honor of her memory, Girl Scout Troop 20622 in Seward donated a basket of baby goods to Seward Memorial Hospital to be given to the first baby girl born on or after her date of birth – Oct. 31.
Since Gordon Low was born on Halloween, the multi-level troop decided to create the baby basket at a Halloween/birthday/baby shower party on Oct. 18.
“It was really cool to be able to see the girls come together to celebrate not only the founder of Girl Scouts, but also a family right here in Seward and kind of carry on Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy,” said troop co-leader Hannah Weisgerber.
To stick with the birthday theme, the event was complete with cupcakes and treat bags. The scouts also wore costumes, watched a Halloween movie and played a variety of baby shower games. They tried to match troop members and leaders with their baby photos, used their sense of smell to guess the types of candy bars spread on diapers and used whatever tools they wanted to free a small plastic baby from an ice cube.
“I liked breaking the babies out of the ice,” said Weisgerber’s daughter and Girl Scout, Hazel. “I had fun at the party.”
Each scout brought at least one baby item to donate. The basket was full of diapers, sensory toys, blankets, monthly photo props, a handmade pumpkin hat, Aquaphor, wipes, a teether, burp clothes, on-the-go diaper disposal bags and footed onesies.
The troop also added a $50 Walmart gift card, made the baby an honorary troop member shirt and included a note extending their congratulations and explaining the idea behind the basket.
Hazel, age 6, enjoyed seeing all the baby items they collected and knowing that a baby girl would receive them. She and her mom donated diapers, wipes and a teether shaped like a ghost.
“When you have a baby, it’s a big adjustment,” Hannah said. “Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth baby, there’s just a lot of things that you need.”
Troop co-leader Alison Kumbier and her daughter, third-grade Brownie-level scout Agatha, dropped the basket off at Seward Memorial Hospital on Nov. 29.
“Who knows? Maybe the baby who receives it will be a Girl Scout when she goes into kindergarten,” Hannah said.
