Girl Scouts :: Girl Volunteer & Community Service Opportunities

Community Service Project at Fred Astaire Dance Studio NEW
Fred Astaire Dance Studio located at 5443 Sheridan Drive in Williamsville is holding a fundraiser to support Carly’s Club and Roswell Park Cancer Institute on May 10 from 9:00 am – Noon. There is an opportunity for older Girl Scouts to assist for community service hours. Call Catharine Venzon (998-7803), Troop Leader, Troop #1097, for details.

May is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month!
Volunteer to help raise mental health awareness.
We are in need of troops to assist in assembling bookmarks to raise awareness for children’s mental health. To sign your troop up to volunteer, please contact DaShawn Johnson, Director of Program at 837-6400 Ext. 255 or e-mail djohnson@bflogirlscouts.org

Girl Volunteers Wanted
The Girl Scouts gets numerous requests for girl participation in the community. If you're interested in spreading the work about Girl Scouts, please complete the form and return to the service center at 70 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14214, attention Maria Diaz.
Girl Volunteer Form.PDF

Help the Family Justice Center by Distributing Flyers
The Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County is partnering with the Family Justice Center to distribute posters on domestic abuse awareness throughout Erie County.
Help get the word out about this critically important service by taking 15–20 posters and distributing them to places in your neighborhood where families gather. To volunteer or for more information, contact the Family Justice Center at 716-558-SAFE or www.fjcsafe.org.
FJC Girl Scout Flyer.pdf

Ladies of Charity “Fresh Start” Program
Ladies of Charity is collecting new and gently used household items to benefit those who have survived fire, relocation, and/or domestic abuse. Needed items include: bedding, towels, dishes, pots and pans, silverware, utensils, lamps, curtains, coffeemakers, toasters, irons, and small appliances. If you would like Ladies of Charity to give a presentation to explain their programs to your group, call 895-4001 to make arrangements. They can also arrange tours of their center to show what they do and how they do it. Ladies of Charity is located at 1122 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14212. For more information call 895-4001.

Blue Angel Community Service Patch Program
Patchwork Design is provding girls an opportunity to earn the Blue Angel Community Service Patch. Girl Scouts will need to complete 3 requirements to earn the patch. Visit http://www.patchworkdesigns.net/PP/Commserv0708.htm for details.
The Blue Angel Patch is Patch Item #5684 and is $2.50 to purchase. (patch is on blue satin twill with metallic silver and gold) Each symbol on the patch represents a community service project.

Send a Card of Support
Xerox is currently sponsoring the "Let's Say Thanks" program to show support for the men and women in all branches of the military that are stationed overseas. At the web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and send it to a soldier that is currently serving in abroad. Sending a card is FREE and it only takes a second.

Cell Phones for Soldiers
When Brittany and Robbie Bergquist of Norwell, Massachusetts, heard of a soldier having to pay almost $8,000 for a phone bill to call his family from Iraq, they wanted to do something. With $21, the brother and sister duo, then 12 and 13, respectively, started Cell Phones for Soldiers. The organization turns old cell phones into minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas.

People donate their old phones to the teens. They came up with the idea to sell them to a recycler for $5 and use the money to buy calling cards. Since they started three years ago, the pair has raised more than $1 million in donations and sent 400,000 minutes to troops. They hope to increase that amount nearly tenfold in the next five years so that more soldiers can call home.

To find out how you can help visit http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

Gold Award Mentors Needed
If you would like to help girls earn their Girl Scout Gold Award by volunteering to be a mentor, and are at least 18 years old, contact Lois Will at 837-6400, ext. 362 or lwill@bflogirlscouts.org for more information. Training will be provided.

American Red Cross–Volunteers Needed
    The American Red Cross is launching a new community initiative and can use the help of the Girl Scouts of Greater Buffalo. There is no fundraising and no cost for the troops. Plus, working with the Red Cross may fulfill several badge requirements.
    The American Red Cross would like to work with troop leaders to encourage girls to help get blood donation pledges from their families, friends and neighbors. We will create signage and give the girls the marketing material they will need to be successful in this endeavor.
     Once pledge cards are given to troop leaders, the Red Cross will call the potential donors to set an appointment at the Blood Donation Center of their choice. They have 5 Blood Donation sites convenient located throughout the area: Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, George Urban Boulevard in Cheektowaga, Camp Road in Hamburg, and DeGraff Memorial Hospital in Tonawanda.
     Our region has faced serious blood shortages and our mission is to eliminate future shortages by reaching out to the community. It takes less than an hour to give the “Gift of Life”. With the continuing blood shortages, participation from the Girl Scouts will make a world of difference to hospital patients in our area at a time when blood supplies are low.
     The American Red Cross is available to help the Girl Scouts by offering guest speakers for meetings and events.
      For more information call Marion Paris at 878-2069 or 812-3214.

Cornerstone Manor–Possible Service Project
Cornerstone Manor, a shelter for homeless, abandoned and abused women and children, recently built a new facility in the City of Buffalo. If your troop is looking for a service project, this can be a great opportunity for you. They are looking for new furnishings for their building, but there are many other opportunities to help too. For more information, contact Cornerstone Manor at 852-0761.

Donations for Afghanistan–Possible Service Project
      Capt. Frank who is stationed at one of the military hospitals in Afghanistan wrote a moving e-mail about how donations of gently used items can help those who are very poor in Afghanistan. Troops can send clean old clothes, shoes, coats, toys, etc.
      Baby and toddler items are of particular need. When children are admitted to the hospital, there is a limited supply of diapers, baby food, clothing, and small toys. Please make sure that donated food has not expired. Do not ship anything breakable or in aerosol cans. Groups are responsible for their own shipping to Afghanistan and are encouraged to find sponsors to help defray the cost.
      If your group is interested in helping our military hospital meet the needs of the children and adult civilian population in Afghanistan, contact Carol Lee Spages, Volunteer Coordinator for Girl Scouts at clspages@earthlink.net for further information.

Youth For Understanding USA
Youth For Understanding (YFU) is one of the world's oldest, largest, and most respected international exchange organizations. Today, YFU USA administers the Youth For Understanding programs in the United States. Hosting an international exchange student can be an enriching experience for the entire family that will last a lifetime. By opening your home and heart to a student from overseas, your family will gain a new global perspective, many memories, and - quite possibly - a new family member!

When you volunteer to host an exchange student, you agree to:

Welcome your new son or daughter as a member of your family.
Help your student adapt to your family and to U.S. life and culture.
Provide a safe and loving home environment including a bed, a place to study, and three meals a day.
Attend orientation events, read the preparation materials, and maintain regular contact with your local volunteer.
Understand policies and encourage your student to adhere to those policies.
Familiarize your student with your community and its resources.

All you need to host an international student is the ability and desire to open your home and heart to a new family member. You and your family have a lot to give. Invite an exchange student to become a part of your family and discover what you can gain!

For families interested in exposing their child(ren) to other countries and backgrounds, hosting a foreign exchange student is an excellent introduction into culture, and a priceless experience for you as well as the international student. Please consider becoming a host family. If you are interested or want more information, please contact:

Youth For Understanding USA
6400 Goldsboro Road
Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20817
United States of America

Phone: Worldwide + 240-235-2100
Fax + 240-235-2104
Local U.S. District Office
Toll Free 1-866-4-YFU-USA
E-mail: admissions@yfu.org
Link to YFU National and Partner Offices Worldwide