Troop 6000 is a Girl Scouts troop for girls in the New York City shelter system. It was founded by Giselle Burgess and Jimmy Van Bramer in 2017, and initially served about 20 scouts; it has since expanded to include more than 600 girls and volunteers at over 18 shelters in New York City.
History
editTroop 6000 was founded as a result of suggestions from Jimmy Van Bramer, a New York City Councilmember, and Giselle Burgess, a community engagement specialist for Girl Scouts of Greater New York, who was living in a homeless shelter with her children at the time. The proposal was met with enthusiastic support by the Girl Scouts organization.[1][2] Initially, it was based at the shelter in Long Island City where Burgess was living (in the district represented by Van Bramer). By 2019, it had expanded to serve more than 600 girls and women volunteers at 18 shelters city-wide.[3]
The troop has inspired other Girl Scouts troops serving girls in housing insecure situations, such as Troop 64224 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.[4]
Activities
editThe troop participates in a similar variety of activities and programs as other Girl Scouts do, including exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields, studying first aid, and camping.[1] Troop 6000 also sells cookies; in 2018, the Kellogg’s Cafe in Union Square provided space for a stand.[5][6]
Since its founding, the program has expanded to include more than 600 girls and volunteers at over 18 shelters in New York City.[7] The program offer the girls fun, new skills, and a refuge from the outside world.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Pinter, Jacob. "An NYC Scout Troop Provides Homeless Girls A Place Of Their Own". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ Stewart, Nikita (2017-04-16). "Living by the Girl Scout Law, Even Without a Home". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Driving force behind Girl Scout Troop 6000 announces her run for Van Bramer's City Council seat". QNS.com. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ Beachum, Lateshia (2020-03-05). "A Girl Scout troop for kids without homes has sold nearly 20,000 boxes of cookies: 'They get to be heroes'". The Lily.
- ^ "Girl Scout Troop 6000 Empowers Girls at Domestic Violence Shelters". Safe Horizon. 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ Amatulli, Jenna (2018-04-12). "Homeless Girl Scouts Aim To Sell 6,000 Boxes Of Cookies". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ "Queens founder of Girl Scouts Troop 6000 takes position on board of nonprofit to help more families in need". QNS.com. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ Garsd, Jasmine (2024-05-13). "A Girl Scouts troop offers hope and 'sisters for life' for migrant children". All THings Considered. NPR.
External links
edit- "Troop 6000". Girl Scouts. Retrieved 2020-03-18.