Silver Award project grows into Garden of Hope
Produce donated to Hopewell Love Food Pantry in Birdsboro
Daniel Boone Girl Scouts Olivia Darrohn and Giana Stoltzfus spent the past year growing their Garden of Hope project to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award.
This summer, they donated produce from their garden to Hopewell Love Food Pantry in Birdsboro.
Their favorite part about the garden project?
“Getting to be very hands-on in helping others in the community,” said Giana.
Olivia likes “knowing the food we were growing was helping people.”
Members of Daniel Boone Girl Scout Troop 1797 since kindergarten, Olivia and Giana developed a deep friendship over the years, so when it came time to work on their Silver Award project, they opted to work together.
“They naturally looked toward each other as obvious partners that can get the job done and work with a positive attitude,” said Olivia’s mother, Stacey Darrohn.
The highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6 to 8) can achieve, the suggested minimum time for earning the Silver Award is 50 hours.
“When Girl Scout Cadettes focus on an issue they care about, learn the facts, and take action to make a difference, they gain the confidence and skills that will
catapult them to lifelong success,” according to the Girl Scout website (https:// www.girlscouts.org).
In early 2020, Olivia and Giana went to work on identifying a problem in the community.
Food insecurity, especially amid the COVID pandemic, was one issue that stood out for them.
“COVID was starting to close schools down and they knew that some classmates relied upon the meals at school for daily nourishment,” said Stacey.
Olivia and Giana decided to start a community garden with a composting program, and then supply the produce to a local food pantry, Hopewell Love, which is run by local churches.
Twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6 p.m., the Hopewell Love Food Pantry offers a place to shop for food for community members. The pantry is located at the Birdsboro Fire Company, 214 W. First Street (https:// www.hopewelllove.org/ the-food-pantry).
Starting in the summer of 2020, Olivia and Giana, along with the members of their team, established the Garden of Hope located on the grounds of St. Gabriel’s Church in Douglassville. For the garden project, their team built three raised garden beds. All of the materials, soil and seedlings were donated by members in their community.
“They continued their project into this past summer — finally seeing the product of their hard work,” said Stacey.
Among the challenges they faced, Olivia and Giana said COVID made it difficult to work together at times.
“The constant attention the gardens needed were more than what the girls anticipated,” Stacey added.
The next and final phase of their project is to teach the children at Good Shepherd Learning Center in Douglassville all about composting and healthy eating and where their food comes from.
“By getting the children involved in this,” said Olivia, “we are hoping to develop healthier eaters.”
“Yes, and they will also understand how composting can help the Earth, too!” added Giana.
“The constant attention the gardens needed were more than what the girls anticipated.” — Olivia’s mother, Stacey Darrohn