Thank you to Frito-Lay and Kroger for their partnership in the 8.9.10 Service Project. We had over 100 Girl Scouts attend the Kick Off event for 8.9.10! Clarice Tinsley’s Hometown Heroes will air on Fox4 on Monday, August 16 at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 17 at 12 p.m.!
Click here for photos of the event
What is 8.9.10?
It is a date and a commitment to community. One of our three keys to leadership is TAKE ACTION, and with this in mind, the Girl Scouts are launching a new initiative, in partnership with Frito-Lay and Kroger, that we hope will inspire our troops to step up and help their communities in a sustainable way.
To build on the momentum of this event, the collection window dates will be Aug 9-Aug 23. This change is effective for ALL five Kroger drop off locations. We moved the dates to tie it to 8-9-10 and make it easier for donations – no one has to remember the dates begin two weeks after 8-9-10. Now, just come by any of the designated Krogers within two weeks of Aug 9. There will be a donation bin in the lobby clearly marked for 8-9-10.
By August 9, 2010, which is 8-9-10, we hope to raise awareness regarding two of our area’s biggest hardships – hunger and illiteracy– by completing one of our biggest drives ever. This is what we hope to do:
- Every Girl Scout will collect 8 cans of food
- Every Girl Scout will collect 9 gently used or new books
- Every Girl Scout will identify and complete her “Perfect 10” in community service
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Hunger is a growing problem in our community. We are experiencing increasing gaps in hunger as unemployment increases and more people are struggling to eat. Local food pantries have seen demands increase more than 50% in the past 12 months. Citizens who previously donated or volunteered at food banks are now recipients. |
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We often take for granted the importance of our education and the simple act of reading, but research shows that the single biggest barrier to literacy development in under served communities is the lack of access to books. One recent study showed that while in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children. |
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The “Perfect 10” portion of the initiative is designed to generate some creativity and thoughtful review of how each Girl Scout can do her best to support her community. Each Girl Scout must define her “Perfect 10” for herself – it could be anything from 10 hours of volunteer time at the local food bank, to a $10 donation to your local troop treasury for future donation. We hope that the girls will be creative with their “Perfect 10.” |
8-9-10 is designed to show all Girl Scouts how a small contribution and effort can make a major impact on their local communities. The project will kick off through troop meetings, emails, and related communication before 8-9-10. By then, we hope to inspire as many Girl Scouts as possible to participate – and help them to inspire others to participate. The troops may choose to have their contributions go to the program beneficiaries we have chosen based on our research:
- North Texas Food Bank – The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of 1,146 feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. The NTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and seniors through education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Close the Gap is the NTFB’s 3-year initiative to unite the community to narrow the food gap by providing access to 50 million meals annually by 2011.
- KIPP TRUTH Academy of South Dallas – KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) is a free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory school with a track record of preparing students in the under served South Dallas community for success in college and in life. There are 82 KIPP schools in the US, but only one – established in 2003 – in North Texas. The school currently serves 267 5th through 8th graders who typically move from performing below grade level at 5th grade entrance to exceeding 8th grade competencies upon KIPP graduation. Reading is a fundamental part of the curriculum and students use all downtime, including the moments between classes to read. KIPP requires no admission criteria other than the child must live in the underserved area and want to learn.
New 8-9-10 patches for this year’s initiative will be awarded to participants. Patches will be distributed in early October through your troop leader.