Girl Scout Hearts Connect

When a tragedy happens – everyone feels the pain and most of us want to help, but feel helpless.

I think that our national CEO Anna Maria Chavez said it best this week (see below) – at least for our Girl Scout community.  If you want to reach out to our Girl Scout sisters in Connecticut, keep reading.  The Girl Scout council there is asking for your thoughts and prayers.

From Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

Dear Girl Scouts,

I write to all of you with a heavy heart. Indeed, words cannot express the sorrow I feel over the loss of life as a result of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I, like everyone across the country and around the world, was shocked by the terrible tragedy and have grieved for the children and educators who lost their lives, and for the entire Newtown community.

On Sunday, I learned that eight of the twelve girls who died were Girl Scouts and that two Girl Scout families lost sons. The girls were Girl Scout Daisies who wore their uniforms proudly. The loss of any child brings with it an especially hollowing pain; to know that all of us in our Movement shared with those girls a love of Girl Scouting makes it all the more personal—and heartbreaking. Yet I know that all of us stand with our sisters at Girl Scouts of Connecticut as they endure with courage and strength this unspeakable tragedy, and I am heartened by the fact that we are developing girls who will lead our society to solutions and approaches that will prevent such tragedies in the decades ahead.

So we forge ahead, now more than ever committed to our mission of serving girls, and we do so even as we mourn this devastating and unfathomable loss. May those who perished and their families always remain in our thoughts and prayers, especially as we gather with our own families during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Anna Maria Chávez

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of the USA

Please read below if you or your girls would like to express their condolences.

A note from our sisters at Girl Scouts of Connecticut:

Many sister Girl Scouts have asked what they can do to help. Currently, Girl Scouts of Connecticut is planning a memorial service with the Newtown Service Unit in mid-January. At that time, we will be presenting thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes on trefoil art. If you or any of your troops would like to participate, please send these trefoils to our Hartford Service Center
Girl Scouts of Connecticut
c/o Trefoil Project
340 Washington Sreet
Hartford, CT 06106

Here is a link to trefoil art we created for girls and troops to use, if they would like.

I am thinking of all you beautiful Girl Scouts out there this week. Thank you for being you! Give your family an extra hug and kiss!

Yours in Girl Scouting,

<3 Erin