Brownies bake to raise funds for Flint children
The members of Willow Creek Elementary Brownie Girl Scout Troop 117032 were so concerned about the kids in Flint, Michigan that they decided to do something to help them have greater access to clean drinkingwater.
“I think the kids in Flint must be scared about the water,” Brownie Lauren Madrey said.
“When I heard about it, I was worried.”
The news they heard about lead contamination was brought even closer to home when they learned that one of the members of their troop, 8-year old Brooklyn Cardenas, was from Flint.
“I was like, ‘Wow. I’m so sorry for them,’ ” Brooklyn said. “I am also lucky, because we moved to Texas a few months before it happened.”
Her mother, Jeanne Cardenas, said the family had been talking about the story and following it in the news.
The topic seemed especially relevant, since the troop had been working on the Girl Scouts Wonders of Water Journey, which includes such badges as Love Water, Save Water, and Share Water.
For the Love Water segment, they learned to make rainbows with light, water and mirrors. For the Save Water part, the girls learned just how difficult it is to clean water once it has been contaminated.
“We put a bunch of dirty stuff in our water,” Brooklyn said.
In two tubs of fresh water, the troop members added cookies, egg salad, coffee and oil.
“We tried to get it out, all of that stuff, but it was really
hard,” Brooklyn said.
The girls took the message to heart, Jeanne Cardenas said. “We talked about how hard it is to get clean water in some countries and how water is such a part of life. The kids learned a lot about water filtration and drinking safe water.”
After this introduction to clean water and then hearing about the problems in Flint, the Brownies marched into action.
Last month, they asked principal Nancy Pinkerton if they could host a bake sale on the campus.
“The principal said it was a very good idea to put others before yourself,” Brooklyn said. “She said that it was kind, safe, respectful and responsible.”
Those qualities make up the school’s motto.
Pinkerton even allowed the girls to make a bake sale commercial that they could air during announcements.
“It was a good idea to make the commercial so people knew about it,” Brooklyn said.
Kroger donated a cake for the cause and Randalls gifted the troop with a $25 gift certificate to buy baked goods for the sale.
The nine girls in the troop made cupcakes, banana bread and cookies and set up a lemonade stand on campus at noon Feb. 3, just in time for early dismissal.
Brooklyn reported that the troop raised a total of $501.
The Cardenas family will then taking the funds to Flint, along with Valentine’s Day cards and letters from Willow Creek written to bring cheer to the kids, on Feb. 12.
“Our troop is helping to make Flint stronger,” said Zoey Sunosky, 9,said.
“Our bake sale will help the kids in Flint get clean water to drink,” Laura Madrey said.
Cardenas said the funds will be given to the City School Junior Girl Scout Troop 70732, a group of seven fourth graders in Flint, who will decide the best use of the money, whether that means investing in filters or bottles of water to be distributed.
“They’re Part 2 of our operation,” Cardenas said. “They’ll be the feet on the ground.”
She said having the bake sale was an ideal way to increase awareness about Flint’s water problems.
“They can’t drink the water,” Brooklyn said. “It’s poison.”
Now the Brownie troop will move onto its next badge requirement, learning howto conserve water.
“We’re going to teach the girls to use less water,” Cardenas said. “We’re going to track how much they use in the next week and try to cut it in half.”
She said all the troop activities are focused on the three Girl Scout “leadership keys” discover, connect and take action.