Imagine your a minor being taken away from the only family you know and are thrown into a foster system where you don’t have a voice in your own future; where you are 2xs as likely as US war veterans to suffer from PTSD caused from your experience; where you may end up in a group home setting because no one stepped up to foster you. Would you feel like anyone truly cared about you or that things would get better? Now, picture on your worst day, in that situation, receiving a small gift from a stranger just to let you know you aren’t alone and that someone, somewhere, is thinking of you. How would that small act of kindness make you feel?
Prescott Girl Scout Troop 3145 knows the impact one small act of kindness can have on someone going through a hard time and rallied to have that effect on local foster youth. Earlier this week, despite a national Girl Scout Cookie shortage, Troop 3145 collected and delivered 170 boxes of cookies to Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation (YC4KF) to be distributed to this area’s most vulnerable youth.
“We love knowing we are providing a nice treat to local foster families,” said Mila Krupke, a Girl Scout in Troop 3145.
YC4KF will begin distributing the Girl Scout Cookies this week and plans to split the boxes between their Family Visitation Center, CASA of Yavapai County, Prescott DCS, and group homes where local foster youth have been placed.
“Because of Troop 3145 we have the power to provide a small token of care to around 42% of our area’s foster youth and that is huge!” Said Mona Stephens, Development Director at Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation. “What is even more important to note, this is kids helping kids!”
Since 2018, the 33 girls that make up Troop 3145 have gone above and beyond for the local children in Foster Care. Each year they donate cookies and collect toys to donate during the Christmas season for foster youth. These girls remind us it doesn’t matter how old you are or what you have to give, if you have a desire in your heart, you can make a difference in the lives of local foster youth.
For more information on how you can support local foster youth, especially by using your AZ tax dollars, contact Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation at [email protected].
Yavapai CASA for Kids Foundation would like to thank the Daily Courier and Prescott Enews for covering the story.