Ongoing Opportunities
The opportunities below are year round programs that Hillsborough Girl Scouts has been supporting on a regular basis.
Operation Shoebox - All Levels
If your Troop is interested in hosting a shopping spree, you can contact local grocery stores/Walmart to arrange it. The signs and bags that you would need from Operation Shoebox are available by calling Rod Hirsch at 908-255-4172.
This counts toward Hearts of Service.
Ronald McDonald House: Pop Top Collection - All Levels
An easy way to assist the wonderful mission of the Ronald McDonald House is to save all aluminum tabs from soda, seltzer, pet food, vegetable and soup cans. Place tabs in a clear ziploc bag and drop off at 483 Hillsborough Rd.
This counts toward Hearts of Service.
Bottle Tops for Prosthetic Limbs - All Levels
Save the white tops from plastic water bottles, place them in a ziploc bag and drop off at 483 Hillsborough Rd.
This counts toward Hearts of Service.
Elijah's Promise Snack Bags - All Levels
5 bags per scout are required:
1 snack bag: paper bag, fruit cup, water/juice, a healthy snack(s) (for example granola bars, individually wrapped muffins, and/or crackers)
Individual snack bags must be placed in a waterproof bag (like a trashbag) and labeled with Troop number, girl(s) name(s) and brought to 483 Hillsborough Rd
Suggestion: have girls do household chores to earn money to purchase the items needed for this or other donation events
This counts toward Hearts of Service.
Community Action Network (CAN)
Hillsborough Food Bank also known as the Community Assistance Network (CAN) is always looking for assistance.
Hillsborough Food Pantry
Canned goods, pasta, paper products, over the counter medications, and other supplies are needed to assist families in the time of financial crisis. Suggested items can be found on the CAN page. Troops may organize collection drives, or can reach out to the pantry to find out about opportunities to help sort donations.
CAN Team
Looking for High School Troops to help man tables at various community events throughout the year. If your troop is interested in making an impact at home, contact Bob Wagner at the Department of Social Services: Rwagner@hillsborough-nj.org or call 908-369-3880.
Birthday Boxes
Troops can put together 'Birthday Boxes'. Kits should include the dry ingredients necessary to make a cake (mix, icing, candles, decorations), Decorations, Paper and Plasticware, Cups, Beverages, and anything else that could make a child's party fun. The boxes can be made from any material (an office paper box is perfect) and should indicate whether the party is girl, boy, or unisex.
BINGO at Foothill Acres
The Director of Activities at Foothil Acres has sent in a request for any troops that would be interested in visiting and playing Bingo with the residents. This can be done on a regular basis, once in a while or just once or twice. Intergenerational activities are a wonderful way to provide community service to earn hours towards Heart of Service as well as doing something nice for someone!
Any troop interested should contact Caitlyn Campbell (Director of Activities at Foothill Acres) at (908) 369-8711 X5243.
Please copy SU72 Service Coordinator (service@borogirlscouts.org) or send her a note to let her know that you are participating. Please send the troop number along with the girls names.
Operation Shoebox
In addition to their advertised packing events during the year, Operation Shoebox has volunteer needs on an ongoing basis including standing at local supermarkets collecting donations and donation sorting. Contact Operation Shoebox for details.
S.H.I.P. - ON HOLD DUE TO IDA DEVASTATION
Girl Scouts of Hillsborough supports SHIP each year with our annual food drive in February. This food drive supports SHIP’s mobile soup kitchen. For those that aren't aware, SHIP is located in nearby Somerville, NJ. From their website:
“SHIP, the Samaritan Homeless Interim Program, began operations on March 5, 1984 in response to the unheeded cry of the many women, children and men who are in desperate need of emergency housing and associated services.
Clients coming to SHIP are in desperate need of help. Many are the working poor. They include those that suffer from homelessness or being near homeless. Many are hungry or suffer from substance abuse dependency, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues, or neglect and isolation. Services are tailored to each individual's need and vary in duration according to each individual or families situation. SHIP provides this unique population with critically needed emergency interim services.
These services may include advocacy, emergency interim housing, interim counseling, and support services, that greatly enhance their chances of regaining their self-sufficiency again. SHIP is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the poor. Clients are eligible to apply for all of SHIP's Programs and Services.”
S.H.I.P.
87 East High Street
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
908-393-9545 (phone)
SHIP 908@optonline.net
Looking for recipes to make for S.H.I.P.? Troop 60304 created this recipe book as part of their silver award.
Also for SHIP:
BROWN BAG (packaged) MEALS
Requirements: 60 Sandwiches
Examples with suggested codes to mark on bags:
60 brown bags required
Ham & Cheese = HC
Bologna = B
Tuna = TF
Turkey = T
American Cheese = AC
20 Extra of Peanut Butter & Jelly = PJ
1 pound of cold cuts yields 8 to 10 sandwiches
ALSO INCLUDE IN EACH BAG ONE OF EACH OF THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW:
60 Pieces of fruit, please provide assortment (*Some clients have health concerns including but not limited to the ability to chew hard food..)
60 Juice boxes with straw attached
60 Snack item: chips, cookies in baggie, wrapped donut, packaged cake, etc. Be creative!
Each bag should have in it: one sandwich, napkin, juice box, one piece of fruit and snack item. Bags should be marked on outside indicating which type of sandwich is inside. i.e.: HC for ham and cheese. There should be no mustard or dressing on bread. Mustard & Mayonnaise (condiments) packets will be provided by SHIP.
Call SHIP at 908-393-9545 and let us know when you will be bringing the lunches in order to help us better manage the delivery of the meals to the needy. Deliveries are accepted Monday thru Friday.
Crafting
Click here for Community Service Craft ideas for your troop and locations where you might deliver those crafts!