Troop 117 and the Portsmouth Humane Society

The Bronze award is the highest award level for Junior Girl Scouts and is given when troop members jointly plan and execute a community service project. The girls of Churchland's troop 117 held a pet angel tree drive for the animals at the Portsmouth Humane Society. They contacted nearby organizations for permission to place a decorated tree in their establishments. Kroger, Pampered Pets, Wags to Whiskers, the Girl Scout store, Western Branch Middle school, South Norfolk Congregational Christian Church, Aldersgate UMC and St. Mark UMC agreed to support their efforts.

The girls made all of the pet-themed tree decorations. They even printed pictures of adoptable animals from the humane society's website and made ornaments out of those. The public responded with nearly 1,000 pounds of donations, including 700 pounds of dog food, 135 pounds of cat food, 139 pounds of pet treats and toys, numerous blankets and towels and gallons of dish detergent, bleach, laundry soap and Pine Sol.

The angel tree drive coincided with the humane society's move into their new building. The excited fourth and fifth grade Girl Scouts volunteered at the shelter's opening day. Below are pictures from the ribbon-cutting and from the donation drop-off.

Girl Scout troop 117 members are Charlotte Ingram, Sarah Olivar, Madeline Firestone, Amadi Turner, Ruth Buchannan, Carrington Diehl, Alexandra Clements and Grace Nichols. Kristi Olivar is troop leader. Tiffany Firestone and Tara Turner are her assistants.

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