Donate by December 12 to Collection Boxes Placed in Six Locations around Town

By J.D. O’Gara

Girl Scout Troop 62493 is a busy troop, but when their leaders, Kelly Church and Theresa Marlar suggested taking the holiday collection for seniors in Holliston off their to-do list, they were offended.

“The senior gift drive is really important to these girls,” says Church. As Troop activities go, she says, “It was one of their favorite activities, and they voted unanimously (to keep it). And it’s literally nothing but work on the girls’ side.” Church adds that the effort also cost the troop about $100 of the money they fundraised last year. 

Troop 62493 took over the annual gift drive from another troop. Last year, they worked with volunteers at The Center to get gift packages to brighten the holidays for seniors in town. 

“We put anything into the bags. Last year, everybody got a big, huge scoop of candy. crossword puzzles, pens with uplifting sayings on them, Chapstick. Sample sizes of shampoos and conditioners, a pair of socks, hand creams, just all of those little tchotchkes,” says Church.

This year, on Veterans Day, the Troop placed collection boxes at six locations in Holliston: Fiske’s, The Boston Honey Company, Bird & Bear Collective, The Candy Cottage, Dellaria, and Central Cafe. They’ll be collecting donations through December 12th. 

“We’re aiming to make up 75 bags right now,” says Church, “We’ll check those boxes a couple times a week and collect things, so the boxes don’t get overly full. Then our girls will go around on the 13th and collect all of the boxes. “

On the 14th, the Troop will hold its holiday party, “and that’s where we stuff all 75 bags all at once,” says Church. 

Girl Scout Alice Gilman loves doing it, both because it’s part of their holiday party and because she enjoys how happy the seniors are when they receive them.

“Like, it’s our favorite thing. We’re, giving back to, like, people who maybe don’t know that we’re thinking about them,” says Gilman, “I get to feel better about my community and how I relate to my community, which is nice.”

Girl Scout Claire Marlar also enjoys the gift drive, but admits, “It’s work, but on the other hand, like, it’s worth it to help the community. I personally believe if you put in enough work, you can achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.”

Last year, volunteers from The Center delivered most of the packages to private homes, (something the National Honor Society will do this year), and the Girl Scout Troop delivered them to Mission Springs and Cole Court. 

Church says she feels blessed to have a Troop that “time and time again they just step up to the plate.”

Troop 62493 has enthusiastically participated in a number of other community service projects, such as weeding garden beds and laying down stone dust for better accessibility in the community garden at Mission Springs, helping spruce up the cemetery and place flags near Memorial Day, helping to remove invasive species, participating in Veterans parades, and helping out at the Haunted Hayride at the Community Farm.

Girl Scout Naomi Fisher says all the work is worth it. She remembers her sense of reward when she helped out at Mission Springs.  

“The people there sat to watch, and they were very grateful, and it was, like, lovely, because making people happy is payment enough, you know?” says Fisher.

In addition to their community work, GS Troop 62493 takes trips and does a lot of camping. They learned their great outdoor skills from leader Marlar, such as knowing how to use a bow drill to start fires, and they’ll soon be putting those skills in a winter camping trip. They also did a Savers fundraiser last month at Holliston Parks & Recreation to help fund an upcoming trip to New York.