Words by Tess Becker
The Girl Scouts of America is one of the largest organizations in the US with the goal of empowering young girls. But many children coming from impoverished backgrounds face barriers to accessing its support.
Most girl scout troops ask families for payment so their children can take part in summer camps and other activities. Those costs prevent some girls from becoming a girl scout altogether. That’s where Troop 6000 comes into the picture.
Girl Scout Troop 6000 is a group in New York for girls who are experiencing homelessness or living in shelters. To cover all costs, the troop organises fundraising cookie sales.
Amazingly, they have sold more than $1.6 million worth of cookies since 2017, benefiting about 2,500 women and girls across more than 20 shelters in the Greater New York area.
The troop supports girls and their families with transition assistance, helping them to move from temporary to permanent housing. They’re also expanding to help immigrants and asylum seekers.
“For Troop 6000 members, not only does Girl Scouting mean fun, it also means consistency and community – a network of supportive peers and adults who, even if they’ve never met before, have similar experiences and are part of the same club,” the troop writes.
Charity check-in
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
American Civil Liberties Union. This is one of the largest civil liberty defense organizations in the US. Find out more and support them here.
Human Rights Campaign. This is one of the largest equality-focused organizations in the US. Find out more.
The Trevor Project. They focus on suicide prevention and mental health support for queer youth. Support them here.
