Bronze Award Spotlight: Committed to Helping Animals
May is National Pet Month, and Girl Scouts across our Council are stepping up to show them some love and kindness.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award empowers Girl Scout Juniors to challenge themselves and to develop leadership skills through Take Action projects that make a real difference in their communities. Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, was a famous lover of animals, and we know this collection of stories would warm her heart.
Pet Food Pantry
Girl Scout Juniors from Troop 602 in Chesapeake dedicated 20 hours each to their Bronze Award project with the goal of creating a lasting impact by supporting pet owners in need. After learning from Grace Lutheran Church, located in Chesapeake, about their occasional shortage of pet food, they organized a pet food donation drive. The Girl Scouts worked together on their creative solution and connected with their community for support. The troop set up at Pet Supplies Plus, also located in Chesapeake, where they asked shoppers for dog and cat food donations to be added to the church’s food pantry. Their initiative aimed to help families who are forced to choose between feeding themselves or their pets by stocking the pantry with small, portioned bags of pet food.
Girl Scout Juniors of Troop 602 Allison, Anna, Caylee, Emily, and Marisa
In addition to the table, they inquired with other pet supply and grocery stores about donating damaged or ripped pet food bags to support their cause. They composed a formal letter to make the requests, and then organized meetings with stores interested in making donations.
“To get dog and cat food, we worked at a table at Pet Supplies Plus and asked people if they were willing to donate dog or cat food, and then we donated it to the Grace Lutheran Church. They added the dog and cat food to their food pantry, because sometimes you have to pick between you or your pet. This way, people who need food can also get food for their pets if they need it.”
Their project supports pet owners during tough times, ensuring that people and their pets can access the necessities, regardless of their financial situation.
All Paws In
Recognizing the emotional toll that shelter animals often endure—feeling lonely, scared, and stressed—the Girl Scout Juniors of Troop 94 focused on enriching the lives of animals at the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center. They handcrafted enrichment toys, including snuffle mats, chew toys, and catnip toys, to help animals feel safe, comfortable, and happy. Their thoughtful efforts extended beyond toys, as they also donated cleaning supplies and treats to support the shelter’s ongoing needs. Under the guidance of Girl Scout Cadette Julianne, also from Troop 94, who brought her Silver Award leadership experience to the project, these Juniors learned how to identify a problem, and then how to make a plan to change it for the better.
Girl Scouts from Troop 94 Bell, Hannah, Harper, Lily and Julianne
Alice’s Animal Aid Project
After her troop visited with Ellen Abney, an animal rehabber from Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, Girl Scout Junior Alice F. from Troop 479 knew that she wanted to help animals to earn the Bronze Award.
“One of the items that is most used is fleece pouches that the animals can sleep in when they first come to the rescue,” Alice said. “Each animal gets their own pouch. These pouches keep the animals warm and make them feel safe. Since I have been learning to sew, I decided to make fleece pouches to donate to Ms. Ellen. She gave me some examples of how to make the pouches safe for the animals.”
Alice researched materials, set a budget, and gathered donated supplies. Working with her grandmother, who had been teaching her how to sew, Alice honed her skills and turned out 75 pouches.
“After I completed my project, I met with Ms. Ellen to donate all the fleece pouches. She told me these will last a long time, and she will be able to share them with other rescue volunteers and spread my work through the community. I am excited because she told me I will get to name one of her raccoons this spring for the donations I made to Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge!”
Girl Scout Junior Alice from Troop 479
Girl Scouts are rockstars when it comes to new skills, spreading kindness, and giving back to their communities, driven by a shared commitment to helping others. Their curiosity and passion empower them to make a meaningful impact on the world, benefiting people and the animals we share our planet with. You can also embark on an inspiring animal adventure when you earn the pet- and animal-themed badges for your level. These badges not only teach Girl Scouts about their favorite animals, they also help them discover more about the world around them and how to use what they learn to create positive change.
