Girl Scouts aim to help kids in foster care

Canyon Lake Canyon Lake Girl Scout Troop 1077 is aiming to make a difference this holiday season in the lives of children in the foster care system. The Troop is turning to the community for help with its December project, “Save the Christmas Spirit.” They are in need of new or like new duffle bags, suitcases, hygiene items and presents for Christmas. They also are collecting new blankets, pillows and pillowcases.

Adopting a child to sponsor with gifts on their wish list is another option for those who wish to help bring joy this holiday season to a child in foster care. Troop 1077 has a list of the names and ages that the sponsor chose from.

Those who would like to make a donation toward this project are asked to contact Troop Leader DJ Potter at 951-538-5566 to arrange a drop-off or pick-up. The deadline is Dec. 16.

The Troop chose this project after Tammy Adler, a Canyon Lake resident and Walden Family Services nurse, spoke to the Troop about the plight of a child who is taken into the foster system and what that experience is like. The girls in Troop 1077 have been together since 2008. At that time, the girls were first and second graders. Today, they are sophomores and juniors in high school.

In September, the Troop kicked off the year by collecting school supplies for foster kids and stuffed backpacks with hygiene items. In October, they made large bibs for seniors at Cherry Hills and delivered them at Thanksgiving. They made no-sew blankets for the animals at local shelters in November.

“The older they have gotten, the more they have been able to step up and really do some good work,” said DJ.