NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
September 27, 2012 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
One Warm Coat
Vejar Families Donate Coats for Girl Scout Service Project
WALNUT, CA--In just one week, members of the Girl Scout Troop #2294 collected nearly 80 gently used coats and jackets during the annual One Warm Coat drive.
Each morning before school between 7:45 a.m. -8:10 a.m. the scouts stood in front of Vejar Elementary waving handmade posters while they collected the donations.
“We are honored to have such an active and caring Girls Scout Troop at Vejar Elementary. Their warm hearts help to make Vejar a special place,” said Principal Jennifer De Anda.
The fifth graders are students at Vejar and Collegewood Elementary Schools.
Their service project was held September 17-21.
The coats and jackets were sorted and delivered to the Good Samaritan Center in the City of Fullerton on September 26, said co-leader Carmella Parungao.
The center provides food, shelter, clothing and support for adults, children and infants.
The One Warm Coat Drive is an event our girl scouts have been doing each year, Parungao said. Last year, the coats were donated to a local church in Pomona and the year prior, to a group home.
The Girl Scouts recently collected plastic bottle caps to be recycled by a major company.
Every Thanksgiving, the troop hosts a food drive to collect canned goods and non-perishable food items for needy local families. The scouts make food baskets and use their troop funds to purchase turkeys for each basket as well as additional items to make a complete meal for each family.
This Christmas, the troop also plans to collect toys and books for the Children's Hospital in Orange County.
“With the support of the district, our community, as well as our principal at Vejar Elementary, we have been able to teach our girls the value of serving your community and most especially those in need,” Parungao said.
Shown:
Girl Scout Troop #2294 collected coats and jackets for the One Warm Coat drive. Shown: Ruth C., Maya G., Maxine P., and Sophia P. (Photo courtesy of Carmella Parungao)