Submitted by Sydney M., Gold Award candidate
Denver Metro
Highlands Ranch
My name is Sydney and I am an Ambassador Girl Scout from Rock Canyon High School. As part of my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I am hosting a family 5K fun run/1 mile walk called “Miles for Meals” at Rock Canyon High School on October 23, 2016 to collect donations and raise awareness for the Fresh Harvest Food Bank in Douglas County. The race is free with a donation of food or personal care items (just bring your donation on race day). Race details and registration information:
Where: Rock Canyon High School Track – Start/Finish
When: Sunday, October 23, 2016
9:00-9:45 a.m. Check-in/Packet Pickup
10:00 a.m. 5k Fun Run Start
11:00 a.m. Announcements/Awards
Register Online at: MilesForMeals.eventbrite.ca
The online registration deadline is Friday, October 21, 2016, but walk-ups on race day are welcome.
All ages are welcome, but please supervise children.
I became involved with Fresh Harvest Food Bank through my elementary school, where they started as the Panther Pantry. My elementary school’s feeder area has one of the highest percentage of students in Douglas County that rely on the free and reduced lunch program, and the Panther Pantry was an important resource for many families. I have continued to work with the organization as they have grown to become an independent food bank that also provides clothes, school supplies, and personal care products. As I learned more about how large a need there is in our community for their services, I knew that I wanted to come up with a Gold Award project to raise awareness and increase donations to their organization. Food security is an issue that I have been concerned about for some time, and my Silver Award project focused on building a school and community garden at East Elementary School, a school with a high percentage of low income families in the Denver Public School District. Many of my fellow high school students, and even adults in this area, do not realize how important the Food Bank is and how many families around Douglas County rely on their assistance and support. I want to do a fun run because it will provide a good opportunity to engage the community and get many people together at one event.
As an active Girl Scout since kindergarten, achieving a Gold Award has always been a personal goal. Beyond individual achievement, I am even more motivated to help improve my community, and this project allows me to have a direct and lasting impact.