Approximately 100 Girl Scouts and leaders from across Northern Dutchess came together in March for their Fourth Annual Charity Event, with three favorite hands-on activities dominating their agenda.

The girls made 78 no-sew pillows and 15 fleece blankets for the Maria Farreri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center.

They also made 91 doggie treat bags and 173 catnip toys, which were delivered to the Ulster County ASPCA by Cassandra Levey who made this project part of earning her Gold Award. The scouts also collected a mountain of donated dog and cat food, cleaning products, towels, bedding, sheets, and blankets for the animal shelter.
And they rolled $345 in coins to contribute directly to the Girl Scouts Annual Giving campaign.

But their helping hands didn’t stop there.

The girls donated 36 pounds of school supplies packs to Operation International Children, an organization dedicated to aiding citizens of war-torn nations like Iraq and Afghanistan.

They collected 155 pairs of socks for an organization called Hannah’s socks, dedicated to engaging schools, churches, businesses, families and their children to make a difference in their community by helping those in need.

In addition, three carloads of food were distributed to the local DCAA food pantry, the Pine Plains food locker and St. Christopher’s food pantries.

For Operation Gratitude, a national organization that sends care packages to U.S. soldiers in hostile regions and their children, the girls collected 15 pounds of stuffed animals, socks, and toiletries.

A local family in need, with three young children all requiring frequent medical care, received 21 pounds in supplies and $85 in gas cards to help them with their trips to Albany Medical Center.

Finally, the girls are still involved in an ongoing collection of Pop Tops for Shriners, which collects many pounds each year to buy toys for children in the hospital.