This greatest season is upon us – Girl Scout cookie season! Here at Orange County Rescue Mission, we are so thankful for the wonderful partnership that has grown over the years with the Girl Scouts. Many of the young girls living here at the Village of Hope are members of a troop that meets here on-site.

Through their experience with the Girl Scouts, these young women are able to learn many new skills and experience fun and educational activities that they otherwise would never be able to. We have seen tremendous growth in the lives of these young women, and I think it only fitting to recognize a few of their many achievements here.

• The Village of Hope Girl Scout troop sold more than 1,200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies last season, their highest-ever sales total! The girls were able to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and learn basic business skills like customer service and money management.
• The Village of Hope Girl Scouts conducted a flag ceremony in front of 300 people, including Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Sylvia Acevedo, at the Girl Scouts of Orange County Volunteer Conference.
• Ten girls attended Camp Scherman in the mountains for one week, where they went hiking, boating and swimming, did crafts, archery, and outdoor cooking. Funding from Girl Scouts of Orange County, the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Times, and Applied Medical covered the cost of the camp. One girl, Sierra, who graduated the Orange County Rescue Mission program with her mother several years ago, attended camp as a Counselor in Training, learning leadership skills and working with younger girls.
• The Village of Hope Girl Scouts were featured in two articles, one in the Orange County Register, as well as the Girl Scouts of the USA blog.

We are so proud of our Village of Hope Girl Scouts and so thankful for all that they are learning and experiencing through the Girl Scouts! I encourage you to take a look at those articles as well as buy some cookies to support these young girls’ entrepreneurial skills!