By Tim Leeds
Shandi Freier and Amanda Wallace gave HRDC Domestic Abuse Program Director Roxanne Ross their completed Girl Scout Gold Award projects Saturday.
The projects were items to be used for people entering the Haven, the HRDC shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
"These things that are given to them will probably be with them the rest of their lives," Ross said about the bags filled with items for children entering the shelter.
Freier made 34 bags of items for children, divided into gender and age categories. Wallace made 25 toiletry bags, filled with various items each in its own space, for women entering the shelter. The boxes of bags turned over to the Haven were the end result of Freier and Wallace's projects to get their gold awards from The Girl Scouts, projects requiring at least 50 hours of work.
"They both went way over the 50 hours, and that's OK," said Debi Freier, Shandi's mother and one of the leaders of the girls' troop.
The bags were designed and sewn of cloth and ribbon by the two scouts, and filled with items they bought with money they had raised for the projects. Some extra toys for the kids at the Haven were also donated by Freier, extra toys donated by other troops.
The planning for the gold award projects was a long process. Debi said the girls had to receive enough required patches to even qualify for working on the projects, then they did planning and preparation before the projects even began.
Ross said the intake manager for the shelter would give the bags to people as they were being processed to enter the shelter. She said the gifts would be a great help and of great consolation to the victims of abuse as they came in. Many, especially the children, always remember the time they spend in safety in the shelter, Ross said, and the donated project bags will make the time even more memorable.
The two scouts haven't actually received their awards yet. That ceremony is planned for later this spring. But the girls' work is now completed with the March 3 presentation.
"All but the paperwork," Debi said.
