The girls of today are tomorrow’s future, and that’s why ensuring that the youth learn vital life skills like communication, leadership and empathy is so important. One such organization that helps ensure these values are taught and learned is the Girl Scouts.
Through multiple service units holding various troops, Girl Scouts is a massive organization that aims to build girls’ courage, confidence and character, while encouraging them to make the world a better place. The organization includes approximately 1.1 million girl members, all working to find and grow their place in this world.
One local troop, part of the Lenape Pines Girl Scouts Service Unit, Troop 17063, is aiming to make its own difference right here in the community.
Troop 17063 is a multi-level group made up of girls from kindergarten through eighth grade. The fourth- and fifth-grade registered Girl Scout Juniors within the troop are currently working toward earning the prestigious Girl Scout Bronze Award. The steps to become a Bronze Award Girl Scout include contacting your local Girl Scout council, building your Girl Scout Junior team, exploring your community, deciding on a project to work on, making a plan of action, putting your plan into motion and spreading the word.
After taking time to explore their community, talk amongst themselves and pull ideas together, the Juniors of Troop 17063 decided on The Coat Closet as their Take Action project.
The idea of the project is a large coat drive where anyone can come to exchange sizes, donate a coat or simply take one if they are in need. Thanks to community support and Girl Scout outreach, the troop has received over 100 donated coats, ensuring plenty of options for those who need them. The Coat Closet has already seen success, with its first two open houses held at Beginners First Academy. Now, they are hosting their third and final open house this Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mays Landing Library, located at 70 Farragut Ave.
Troop leader Erica Slotter shared that the girls came up with the idea entirely on their own and have done the work to get it up and running, including managing the shopping days themselves. After receiving more than 100 coat donations, she said, “It really spoke to the girls that what they’re doing is important and that people are watching.”
The troop is taglining this event “Keeping Our Neighbors Warm.” The idea for the coat exchange came from conversations during troop meetings about what the girls have and how they live.
“They realized that they may take for granted how they can go right into their closet and get a coat, one that always fits and is always warm enough,” Slotter said. “So, we had a discussion that not everyone lives the same way as they do, and other people may find it more challenging to have a coat that fits or that is warm enough for the weather.”
Once the girls recognized that need in the community, it was go-time to make winter coats accessible to anyone who might need one. The timing couldn’t have been better, as our area is currently experiencing peak winter weather.
What started as simply collecting coats has evolved into something even bigger, with the “shop” now offering scarves, gloves and hats as well. Slotter shared that the girls took pride in setting everything up neatly, with coats placed on hangers, organized on racks and labeled by size. She said the girls went around helping those who came in, matching scarves to coats and making sure everyone found what they needed.
“I think this opens their eyes to different perspectives. It’s a good experience to see something outside of your home or school,” Slotter said. “I think their learning mutual respect, looking out for others and just simple humanity for other people and learning to always be thinking of others through this.”
In addition to meeting an immediate community need, The Coat Closet ties directly into core Girl Scout values. The project encourages the girls involved to branch out, create something of their own, build confidence as leaders and find their voices while navigating social interactions and speaking with people in the community. At such a formative age, experiences like this are invaluable.
Through this project, Slotter shared that the girls are also learning that it’s OK to ask for help, and that everyone experiences ups and downs and difficult times, even though those challenges look different for everyone.
“We had someone that was expecting in the spring come in. She said that since she was going to be a different size now when it’s super cold out, she was hoping we had something really big she could wear throughout her pregnancy,” Slotter said. “So, through that interaction, the girls were able to see all different kinds of needs and realize that there’s never any shame to ask for help, and that if you need something, it’s here and we as a community want to provide that for you.”
As Troop 17063 works toward earning their Girl Scout Bronze Award, The Coat Closet stands as a powerful reminder of what can happen when young people are encouraged to lead with compassion, awareness and action. Through this project, the girls are not only helping keep their neighbors warm but are also learning lessons that will stay with them long after winter ends. Lessons about empathy, community and using their voices to make a difference.
Community members are invited to support the initiative by attending the final Coat Closet open house this Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mays Landing Library, located at 70 Farragut Ave. Whether donating, exchanging or picking up a coat, everyone is welcome, and every act of kindness helps keep the community a little warmer.
