Girl Scout Project to Benefit Pets, Owners

A trio of Sidney Girls Scouts is currently working on the finishing touches of a project to help pets and pet owners.

As they prepared to work toward a Silver Award, the highest possible for Girl Scouts in grades 6-8, scouts Karalyn Stevens, Cierra Grund and Audrey Splichal discovered they had the common interest of a love for animals. Having identified that interest, the girls set out to see what they could do for the community that would benefit pets and their owners.

To identify potential needs, the trio canvassed neighborhoods to learn about people, their pets, and needs for each.

Splichal said in their questions found that pets make their owners happy, and as the girls discussed answers, came up with an idea that would in turn help make those pets, and in turn their owners, happier.

The idea blossomed into that of a Pet Blessing Box, a station to be placed in Sidney's Northside Park, where owners who need or have forgotten animal toys or leashes can borrow from the box.

"They can take what they need a bring it back when they can," said Stevens.

Last week the girls began building the Blessing Box and also set out to fill it. For that portion of the project, the girls put together collection boxes to be placed around town, asking that residents who can donate new or gently used non-perishable items. Those items will fill the Blessings Box as needed. For those who don't have pet supplies handy but would still like to support the project, funding jars have also been placed around town.

"It is a long lasting project that helps the girls show leadership, responsibility, reliability, teamwork and gain community service" said Ann Stevens, leader for Girl Scout Troop 10109. "This project also gives you an exceptional group of girls that can use these skills in the future."

By the end of July, the girls plan to have the Blessings Box, funded from their own Girl Scout activities and filled with donated goods, ready for Park Department Superintendent Tom Von Seggern to put in place.

Four donation collection sites for nonperishable items are Creekside Veterinary Hospital, Bomgaars, White Bluffs Veterinary Hospital, and Sidney Veterinary Hospital. Funding jars area at Dairy Queen, Western Drug, and Sonny's Super Foods.