Troop 17092 from Savage, Minnesota decided to work with a local non-profit for the Bronze Award. They chose one that provides new and used toys to kids in their community all year round. Before deciding on their award, they met with the founders of The Toy Corner in Savage, Minnesota to get a tour and learn more about the organization. They learned that parents from a few nearby communities can come to the Toy Corner to pick out a toy for a child. The organization also accepts new and used toys, including stuffed animals.
That day the girls decided to hold a toy drive as well as write and film a commercial to promote the organization. To prepare for their commercial, they met with a woman who had experience making commercials in the radio industry to learn about the process. She shared how to write a script and think about the visuals you want included to go with the script.
The next time they met, they worked together to write and perfect their script by incorporating ideas from each of the three girls. A local videographer volunteered his time to assist them with the filming and video editing, which took place on a Saturday morning at two different locations, the home of one of the scout families and The Toy Corner. The commercial showed a sad girl in a bedroom lacking in toys. Another girl noticed how sad she was and asked her if she needed a toy. Next you see them walking into the Toy Corner to pick out a toy. One of the girls then narrates information about the organization including their website, address, and donation information.
After filming the commercial, the girls turned their time toward a toy drive. In January they created flyers and approached various locations to ask if they could put a collection box out. Collection boxes were placed at four locations around town, their elementary school, the local library, a daycare, and city hall. Their troop leaders helped empty the boxes several times. The girls also went through their own toys to donate any toys they no longer played with. At the end of the three week drive, they had collected enough toys, books, and games to help restock The Toy Corner after they had given away many toys during the holiday season.
We arranged a time to drop off their donation and share their commercial with the non-profit’s founders. The founders loved the commercial and appreciated all the donations! They shared the commercial on their organization’s Facebook page and posted it on their website. Their project is sustainable because the commercial will continue to be used by the organization in future years. The troop also helped spread the word about this newer community organization to new families through the posters they put up to promote the toy drive.
The girls learned that people are grateful when you help them and that people are grateful to help a good cause. They also had fun!
The members of Troop 17092 are Sydney, Lilyann, and Mahika. They were in fifth grade when they completed their Bronze Award Project.
You can watch their commercial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-EA3Fws7GU
You can learn more about The Toy Corner at www.thetoycorner.org.
MakingFriends® .com has a Toy Drive fun patch available for community service projects such as this one.
My name is Stacy Pearson. I am a married mom of 2 children (a boy and a girl). We live in Savage, MN. I have been the co-leader of troop 17092 since my daughter joined Scouts in 3rd grade. When I am not leading the scout troop, I work full time. I also enjoy attending the various activities my children participate in and volunteering in my community.
