Press release from Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont:
(Asheville, NC – September 2, 2016) – As summer comes to an end, a new school year begins, including opportunities for local girls and adults to become a Girl Scout.
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont has opportunities for volunteers who are committed to helping girls develop courage, confidence and character. The two go hand in hand; in other words, without the adult leaders, there is no Girl Scouting.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting – and Jennifer Moore along with her co-leader, Laura Podraza of Asheville, are two volunteers who have served as troop leaders to 21 girls in Troop 30513. Moore loved being a Girl Scout when she was a young girl and saw a need for a new troop in her area. She wanted her daughter to have that same memorable experience she got as a child through Girl Scouts. Although co-leader Podraza was not a Girl Scout as a child, both she and Moore have enjoyed this adventure together as adults.
“Both Laura and I have remained leaders because every year we see how the girls in our troop have grown as young women and have enjoyed the experiences afforded through Girl Scouting,” Moore said.
Although their girls have grown and become very busy, they still make time for camping trips about twice a year, badge workshops for new girls and, of course, cookie sales. They also have several girls who participate in their high school’s travel group, where the girls get the opportunity to travel to many places abroad. Both Moore and Podraza also volunteer with their service unit, helping out with product sales and mentoring new leaders.
This is Moore and Podraza’s twelfth year as a troop. Their commitment through the years is evident in their love for Girl Scouts.
“Our favorite part this year was watching both of our daughters, who started this adventure with us when they were six, work hard and achieve their goal to become Girl Scout Gold Award recipients,” Moore said. “Along with another girl in our troop, all three girls have been in the program since the first grade and graduated high school this past June.”
Cookies, trips and other fun activities are just a small part of the Girl Scouts. Donating service and helping out their communities are also a huge part of the organization.
“During November and December we donated gift bags to a local Veteran’s group,” Moore said. “We also adopted a teen girl for Christmas and spent an evening shopping for items off her wish list.”
Moore said, “All in all, I would recommend becoming a Girl Scout leader so you can be a part of new experiences.”
These experiences Moore speaks about, not only create lasting memories, but also life lessons the girls can take with them through each stage of their life.
Additional informational meetings are also scheduled at the following locations. All events are at 6:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
- Sept. 8 – Black Mountain Elementary, 100 Flat Creek Road, Black Mountain
- Sept. 20 – Haw Creek Elementary, 21 Trinity Chapel Road, Asheville
- Sept. 20, 6 p.m. – Oakley Elementary, 753 Fairview Road, Asheville
- Sept. 22 – West Buncombe Elementary, 175 Erwin Hills Road, Asheville
To learn more about starting a Girl Scout troop or joining Girl Scouts, contact local director of membership development Bess Newton at 828-252-4442 or e-mail bnewton@girlscoutsp2p.org. Or, girls and parents can also find informational events near them by searching an online zip code locator at www.beagirlscout.org.
About Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, a United Way agency, is one of 112 councils nationwide chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to deliver Girl Scout program within specific geographic boundaries. The local council serves nearly 14,500 girls and 6,400 adult volunteers in 40 counties and maintains three camp properties and four service centers offering unique experiences for girls and adults. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to GSCP2P, call 800-672-2148 or visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org.
About Girl Scouts of the USA
We’re 2.8 million strong—2 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year since, we’ve made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents. Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs for girls from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something amazing. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.
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