Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Sabrina HotraTwigger as a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout.

Project: Cozy Reading Blankets

Safe, warm, relaxed, satisfied, and in control are feelings that homeless people do not feel. Poverty, job loss, economic hardship, lack of affordable housing, and mental and physical challenge are some of the root causes of homelessness. Some homeless people do find homes, but are still living in poverty. Lack of education, healthcare, nutritious food, and water, discrimination, unreliable transportation to and from work, and climate change are the main causes of poverty. I researched all these issues on and off for a year or more. I reached out to different agencies in my community to gather some information on how I could help. I knew I could not solve the problem of homelessness, but I decided to make a small impact that will hopefully have a ripple effect. I chose to make blankets for people in the inner city of Rochester, NY. They may not be homeless, but many homes do not have good heat and insulation. Through my research, I learned that a lack of education is one of the primary causes of poverty. That was when I came up with the idea of adding a book to each blanket. My project, “Cozy Reading Blankets,” was born. I teamed up with RFMission (Rochester Family Mission) because they are experts at knowing the needs of people in our community. I chose to donate these reading blankets to RFMission. I knew about RFMission through my church, so I knew they would be a good organization to work with in my community. I recruited people to help make some of the blankets, including my former sewing teacher. She is the blanket expert who helped and made good suggestions, especially when I decided to make a blanket large enough for a king-size bed. I showed leadership by giving people instructions and showing them step by step on how to make the blankets correctly. I used resources wisely by asking for donations of gently used books, unused fabric some people may have had, and connections through my school and church for monetary donations to fill in the gaps with any additional materials that would be needed. I borrowed scissors instead of buying them, too. Next, I set different times for people to help make blankets. When people had something come up, I set more times for them to come another time or to get other people to come help too. I folded each blanket with a book or two, put them in a clear plastic bag and delivered them to RFMission. Why my project matters? We live in an area where it is cold throughout most of the year. I remember when I was little, I would see people living in tents or not even having a tent at all. Some people made cardboard boxes with other things, making some kind of shelter under bridges in our area. They were there throughout the whole year, and I remember thinking they must be freezing. I have always wanted to do something for homeless people, but was told it was too dangerous or too big of a problem for me to fix. After much research, I decided to focus on a smaller part of the global issue of homelessness – poverty. Rochester, NY ranks fifth as having the highest poverty, with childhood poverty being one of the highest in the USA. For my project, I teamed up with RFMission. Their mission lines up with the mission of my project, to serve the needy in the city of Rochester. RFMission are experts at serving the needs of the community. The director confirmed that my project is making a difference to those less fortunate. My plan was to let people know others care and want to help. Helping the needy in Rochester, NY is helping part of the national poverty issue. As I mentioned, we have frigid temperatures in Rochester, NY. Putting on more layers is one way to be warmer. A “Cozy Reading Blanket” was a meaningful way for me to share warmth, knowledge (books) and caring.

About the Girl Scout 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.