A Visit with Congresswoman Kiggans
Three budding leaders from Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast met with Congresswoman Jen Kiggans on July 5 to share their leadership journey in Girl Scouts. Kiggans, a Girl Scout alum, was eager to share some of her Girl Scout experiences and hear from current Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout Emmy who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, spoke about how she created a food pantry at St. Michael’s Church in Virginia Beach. Her goal was to create a grocery shopping experience for those using the food pantry. “Setting up a food pantry in this manner really helps keep the dignity of those using the service of a food pantry,” she said. Donations for the food pantry came from area Girl Scouts and from the church’s congregation. The pantry continues to be supported by local volunteers.
Morgan, also a recent Gold Award recipient, described her Gold Award project as an accessibility garden at St. Mary’s Home for Children. The garden she created consisted of four ADA-approved raised garden beds full of vegetables, herbs, and more. “For those who can’t get outside to enjoy the garden, I created some mini gardens on wheels that can be rolled indoors,” she said. Morgan also wrote and published two books, one about the project itself, the other full of recipes and uses for what’s grown in the garden.
Girl Scout Lillian earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, for building and installing rain barrels and compost bins in a community garden at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. The community garden is utilized by many military families, including Lillian’s! The barrels and bins also remain open to any local residents who can use the resources.
GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller accompanied the girls and spoke to Congresswoman Kiggans about the importance of supporting the Charitable Act (H.R. 3435), a bill that was introduced to Congress in May. The Charitable Act extends and expands the expired charitable deduction for those who do not itemize on their tax returns, ensuring that every American who donates or tithes is able to benefit from both the standard deduction and the charitable deduction. Tracy also shared information on Camp Burke’s Mill Pond which is in need of support for repairs to its dam, and she asked for recommendations for funding sources and other ways to gain support for this beloved camp property that serves girls throughout the region. Congresswoman Kiggans, who is Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Committee within the House of Representatives, was very interested in the project. She agreed that the property’s pond had a positive impact on the surrounding environment and said she would look into ways to support this project.
Thank you to Congresswoman Kiggans for spending her time with our Girl Scouts, for listening and sharing our passion for making the world a better place.
