Pajama Party With Purpose
Submitted by Nicole Savino Mulcahy
The holiday season typically fills us with feelings of good will. The particular 2021 holiday season was very special for the newly minted Hillside Avenue School Girl Scout Daisy Troop 40400. The Daisy troop teamed up with the Cranford Theater to create a festive program that not only provided holiday joy, but helped the Girl Scouts of Cranford give comfort and joy this holiday season.
Daisy Troop 40400 was determined to earn their Mari (orange) petal with a service project that was meaningful and impactful. Troop Leaders Kim Forman, Corinne LaPlaca, and Lisa Williams reached out to the Cranford Theater and organized a fantastic event for Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 6:30 p.m., a special showing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Participants were encouraged to donate new pajamas or a book to the Pajama Program. Scouts would receive a Fun Patch for participating in the evening and making a donation. It was a truly festive and fun night for everyone. The Daisies were able to collect pajamas and books for the Pajama Project while collaborating with a local business.
After the successful event, the donations needed to be sorted and delivered to the Pajama Program. “I want to help mommy! This is fun!” said Daisy Scout, Bethany Williams, when her mother and Scout Leader, Lisa Williams, explained that they would need to sort through all of the donations. The event was quite a success, collecting 68 pairs of pajamas and 57 books for children donated to the Pajama Program. Troop 40400 earned their Mari Petal as well as many smiles amongst the 161 movie patrons in attendance that evening. The collaboration between the Girl Scouts of Cranford and our local Cranford Theater to raise awareness for children in need, was truly a gift this past holiday season.
The Girl Scouts of Cranford boasts over 1,139 Girl Scout Members in 71 troops and Juliettes making it one of the largest non-profit organizations in town. The Cranford Service Unit is a part of the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) Council which is part of the Girl Scouts of the USA. If your family is interested in learning more about local Girl Scouts or to find out more information on the Girls Scouts of Cranford, please visit cranfordgirlscouts.com.
