Giving Back and Getting So Much More

Our girl scout troop volunteered today at the Soup Kitchen in a nearby town. It was our first experience doing community service in this capacity. It was actually my first experience also and I must admit I was a bit nervous and I think the girls were too. The place is not in the best location, obviously, and when we pulled into the parking lot there was already a line forming. It is one of those places that I would never pull into or get out of my car.....but I am so glad I did today.



This particular soup kitchen is supported by all the local churches in all the denominations. It is very heartwarming to see all the many faiths working together to help the community. Our church works the 4th Sunday of every month and we provide all the food for that day. Meals are served daily, with different churches/organizations donating food and services. The menu today consisted of milk or coffee, a sandwich, soup, rolls, and a dessert. We also gave a "second sandwich" to go, which we wrapped for them.



We had an hour of prep time to prepare all the food. The meal was served for one hour and fifteen minutes and then the doors were closed for the day.

I was extremely impressed with the organization, the respect, the politeness, and the kindness. We served 216 meals today and I only had one person who was rude. There were homeless people, people with mental illnesses, black people, white people, Asian people, Hispanic people, older people, men, women, and children of all ages and colors. The children pulled at my heart strings, I knew they would. The young father who got milk for him and his toddler son and then poured both milks in his son's bottle pulled at my heart strings. The young couple with 3 young daughters who had the best manners pulled at my heart strings. The older gentleman with one tooth and a dirty, ripped jacket who told me I poured the best cup of coffee he had ever had pulled at my heart strings. The older lady who thanked me for giving her a meal today pulled at my heart strings. The teenagers who I would have avoided on the street, who called me Ma'am and said please and thank you pulled at my heart strings.

I was very proud of our girls today. They served all these people with love and kindness, gave them some dignity, looked them in the eye and realized they are just people. People who are not as fortunate as they are maybe, but people like them just the same. I think our girls grew a bit today, I know I did.

This Soup Kitchen served 5400 meals last month. The number is slowly rising as our economy worsens. They have a minimal budget and rely heavily on donations. If you have the means or the time I am sure you have a soup kitchen in your community that needs help. We will definitely be back.

The Power of Friendships

Girlfriends. Female companionship. Laughter. Shared intimacies. Friendships. Comradeship.





I spent the past 24 hours with my girl scout troop and their Moms. Our troop has been together for 9 years and their bond is strong. All the girls are unique, yet they are all alike. They go to different schools, yet their education is the same. They are very close, their bonds are strong. Girl Scouts has brought them together. Ten girls who would not seek each other out in a social situation because of their differences. Brought together through a single purpose, kept together by the bonds they have formed.





Watching these young teens laughing and talking brings tears to my eyes. They don't see their differences, or maybe they do and learn from each other. Some are into boys, some are into music, some are into books, some are into makeup, some are into nature.....they come together and are into one thing....having fun. Pillow fights, laughter, jumping on the trampoline, long talks into the dead of night, sharing intimacies as their bodies are changing. Priceless moments helping these young girls become young women. Teaching them that girlfriends are important. Talking to each other will help them sort out problems they have yet to encounter, life's challenges they have yet to face.





These outing are just as important to us Moms. Our laughter regularly wakes up our daughters. Our intimacies shared helps us as we encounter our challenges. Through divorces, deaths, illnesses, new births, new jobs, we rely on each other for support. We laugh until we cry, when deep down we want to cry over our current challenges. Our laughter drowns out our need to cry. We forget for a moment and lose ourselves in our comradeship. Our souls are cleansed with our laughter, our smiles.





We are showing our daughters how truly powerful female friendship is, how necessary it is to keep our souls healthy.





Last night we had a sleepover. We celebrated my co-leader's birthday. We laughed and talked into the deep hours of the night. Outside, in the backyard, our daughters were laughing and talking into the deep hours of the night. The traditions are being passed on.





We spent the day today having fun. We toured the Jelly Belly Factory, the girls played laser tag. they raced miniature cars. We had a wonderful time. We ended our day with smiles on our faces and we hugged each other goodbye, until our next outing, our next meeting. Good healthy fun, so important at this age for our girls.





We celebrated being women today, and becoming women. We savored our friendships. Girl scouts has brought us together, our friendships and our bonds keep us together.







Don't forget to enter my give away....

I am Off.....

....I am taking my Girl Scout troop on an overnight Saturday and we will be home on Sunday. Remember this post? We are going there....maybe I will a story or a picture to share when we get back....Have a great weekend!!