Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Rae Friberg of Penfield, NY, as a 2021 Gold Award Girl Scout. Rae is from Troop 60765 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 12 years.

What Rae said about Girl Scouts

Girls Scouts has helped me help others.

Project: Doggie Waste Stations & Pet Food Pantry Drive

The issues my Gold Award addressed were keeping a healthy, clean environment for our community, plus helping people in need feed their four-legged companions. The Pet Food Pantry desperately needed donations as they were feeding 150 pets of Meals on Wheels clients, but with COVID they were also helping feed over 200 pets in Monroe County. I also wanted to provide a way for area pet owners to dispose of waste during exercise with their pets.

I installed two doggie waste stations in Rothfuss Park in Penfield. I also did a pet food drive for United Church of Christ of Webster Pet Food Pantry, which collects pet food for Meals on Wheels clients. I did this by creating a YouTube video asking for donations and explaining the organization and what they do and need, plus I held a food drive in my neighborhood. I collected over 770 cans of pet food, over 200 lbs. of kitty litter, and over 150 lbs. of dry pet food: enough pet food to feed 43 and a half pets for a whole month!

From my Gold Award project, I learned I was able to do public speaking and have confidence to speak in front of people, which has always been difficult for me. I led my team by corresponding with fellow Girl Scouts and asking a friend to help with the installation of the doggie waste stations. I also asked for help from a friend and my sister with my YouTube video. The most successful part of my project was the pet food drive. I was very proud I could help feed so many pets for the Meals on Wheels clients for a whole month. I will continue to help this organization going forward, whether it be through donating or volunteering for them in the future.

About the Gold Award

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.

The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.

For more information on the Gold Award, click here.