VFW Auxiliary honors Girl Scouts for humanitarian service

Members of Girl Scout Troop 2421 accept a donation from VFW Auxiliary Post 1956.

Story and photos by Joe Quinn, Correspondent

VFW Auxiliary Sun City/Menifee Post 1956 honored Girl Scout Troop 2421 at its Sept. 14 meeting for the troop’s Humanitarian Project directed at assisting the local homeless population.

President Kathy Kellogg and her staff -- Vice Commander Margie Thomas, Secretary/Treasurer Renee Haynes and Conductress Leigh Cramer-Espinosa -- took part in the recognition of the troop, including the presentation of a check to the troop for use in its project.

“It is a truly worthy and well targeted cause,” Haynes said.

The scouts attended in force, including their leadership of Nicole Zundel, Jennifer Sessions
and Mindie Padillo. Some parents also attended. Over lunch, the cadettes described in detail how their program helps the local homeless not only to become more comfortable at local shelters but have the ambition to work their way off the streets and into the mainstream population.

The scouts will use funds donated by the Auxiliary VFW to buy materials from which they will personally make fleece blankets and water-proof backpacks and to provide a booklet handout. The booklet is based upon real professional input demonstrating successful steps that one can take to help improve their present existence.

The program addresses homeless individuals’ comfort at local shelters, a tool to provide mobile storage of their materials and something to assist and inspire their steps forward.

All of the scouts are in local eighth grade classes and moving on to high school in the next school year.

Vice Commander Margie Thomas addresses the members of Girl Scout Troop 2421.