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Update: Girl Scouts of Colorado’s response to the earthquake in Haiti
Jan. 22, 2010 (updated on Feb. 24, 2010) -- When disaster strikes, the Girl Scout community is always one of the first to figure out how they can offer support. The recent earthquake in Haiti has prompted many Girl Scout troops in Colorado to ask “what can we do to help those in need?”
Girl Scouts of the USA announced today that it has temporarily suspended their policy and is now allowing troops/girls to directly raise money to help those in Haiti now through Sept. 8, 2010. Donations must be directed to one of the aid organizations listed below.
This can be done in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions from Girl Scouts of Colorado, especially in the midst of our organization's major fundraising effort, the Girl Scout Cookie Activity:
1. Put out a donation jar at Cookie Booth Sales. Invite customers to drop in their change from their cookie purchases to help the Haiti relief effort. THIS MAY NOT BE DONE AT BOOTH SALES BEING DONE AT SAFEWAY.
2. Set aside a portion of the troop's cookie proceeds to help Haiti. Troops should make clear to their cookie customers how much of the money from a package of Girl Scout Cookies is going to help Haiti. We want to make sure that customers don't think the entire $3.25 is going to Haiti. The money going to Haiti will be the amount of money the troop receives for each package of cookies sold (between 50 and 60 cents per package). There is still money that is owed to council and the bakery for each package of cookies.
3. Troops/girls can volunteer for an organization raising money for Haiti.
4. Wait to set up a troop/girl event or fundraising drive to benefit Haiti after the Cookie Activity is over.
Note: If your troop decides to participate in these efforts, especially those during the Cookie Activity, troops should make sure they are following all the rules surrounding the Cookie Activity.
- Even though money is needed now for Haiti, money will still be needed in the months to come as well. So collecting money early for cookies is not advised.
- Additionally, troops should consider adopting local organizations such as the Red Cross (but ask the organization first) and donating cookies to them as part of the Gift of Caring/Hometown Heroes program. There are many local volunteers and groups that are making a difference in Haiti from right here in Colorado. Sending cookies to Haiti is not advised - money is the best way to help!
- Please don't forget about our local heroes! If you decide to donate cookies to an organization helping Haiti, please also consider donating cookies to other heroes in the community who help make our world a better place.
Media, stories and photos
If your troop is doing something for Haiti and want to promote it to local media, please contact Amanda K. in advance of contacting the media. That way we can coordinate efforts on a local and statewide basis. Even if you aren't interested in promoting your efforts to the media, please let us know what your troop is doing to help out this effort – please e-mail Amanda K.
Organizations your donations can go to:
- Red Cross
- Pan American Development Foundation
- UNICEF
- Oxfam
- Save The Children
- Mercy Corps
- Doctors Without Borders
- The UN World Food Programme
- CARE
- The International Rescue Committee
- World Vision
- United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
Cool story about a Girl Scout in Haiti