Brownie troop 228, comprised of 8-10 year old Girl Scouts, was looking for a community service project. Our troop leader asked me if I could think of anything worthwhile for them to do, and my mind immediately went to Chikudzulire.  I had recently heard that for these people, basic needs that we take for granted here are not available to them. 

Something as simple as a pair of underwear is something these people don't have access to.  This has caused some serious health issues, mostly for some of the younger girls, who sit and play in the dirt every day, unprotected.  As we shared this with the troop, their hearts went out to these girls, and they were very enthusiastic about the opportunity to reach out and help other girls across the world. 

We asked a teen from MISSION who had gone to Chikudzulire to visit our troop, and she came and shared with them all about the village, what life is like there, and showed them pictures of the people they would be helping.  This made the project even more real to them. Our troop was hosting a local event for other troops in our area, and we decided to use that event as a venue for gathering the underwear. 

We dubbed the effort "The Panty Project".  Our troop leader shared about the project at a Girl Scout Leader's meeting, and after that, the panties started pouring in.  An article was run in the Gilbert Tribune, and strangers called, offering packages.  A local preschool heard about it and ran a drive at their school. Troops around the East Valley gathered packages and brought them to us.  Our girls saw how people all over the East Valley cared enough to contribute to our cause. 

We now have over 600 pairs of underwear to send over, and the project is not over yet!  As every Girl Scout learns their pledge, they all promise to "make the world a better place", and that is what these girls are doing.  I am thankful for MISSION's commitment to "do justice", for their involvement with the needs of others around the globe, and for their willingness to let our little troop of 14 girls be a part of that.

April Talley, Mission Member & Mother of Girl Scout in troop #228