Gold Award Spotlight: St. Michaels Pantry
More than 50 million adults, kids, and families in the U.S. are experiencing food insecurity—that is, a lack of nutritious food to help them live an active, healthy life. In 2018, more than 1 in 10 households in Hampton Roads experienced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That number has only increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and may include members of our own communities, friends and family, or members of our troops. This is a sensitive but very important “take action” issue for Girl Scouts across the country.
Girl Scout Ambassador Emerson has been busy making a difference in the community and earned the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, for her efforts towards making the world a better place. She took action to tackle the prevalence of food insecurity in her own community.
Emerson set a goal of reorganizing and revitalizing a pre-existing food pantry at Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach with new ideas designed to offer simplicity of access and dignity to guests.
Emerson said, “Food insecurity is a real issue in Virginia Beach and communities everywhere. Especially due to the lasting effects of the pandemic, people are trying to feed a whole family on one income, but still may not qualify for state assistance. We [Saint Michael’s Lutheran Church] had a food pantry before the coronavirus, but it stopped and had not been restarted, yet.”
Throughout the process of reestablishing the food pantry, Emerson worked with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Interfaith Alliance to identify latest industry ‘best practices’ to ensure the food pantry allows guests to receive help in a manner they will find helpful, with dignity, and without unnecessary barriers.
“We wanted to make our food pantry accessible to the community, but manageable by our church. We had a space, but we needed a plan. I worked with our outreach ministry to form and execute a plan for our food pantry. I coordinated with other churches in the area to make sure our hours balanced with what others are doing, so people have options on multiple days of the week.”
Emerson implemented a method for “shoppers” at the church’s food bank that is similar to a typical grocery store experience, more so than guests might usually experience at a food pantry. At Saint Michael’s guests are given a shopping bag and are able to browse the “store” and select items of their choosing, at no cost to them.
“I hope I am helping in a way that makes people feel valued and respected. I cannot solve the issue of food insecurity, but I can help by offering the community a sustainable source of assistance.”
July 20, 2023
Congratulations, Emerson!
2023 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship
We are extremely pleased to announce that Gold Award Girl Scout Emerson was selected as the recipient of a $10,000 Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship. The 2023 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship has been awarded to one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout per council. Please join us in congratulating Emerson for this significant honor and achievement!
Emerson’s Gold Award project was an exemplification of the core components of the Girl Scout Gold Award, and she demonstrated extraordinary leadership that drove lasting change in the lives of others. Learn more at girlscouts.org.
