Archive for November, 2009
Brownton Service Unit Hosts a Box Packing Party
November 29th, 2009 | 
Author: 
Troops 33583; 30855; 30856; 30857; and 33640
Ryan Longwell on KTIS
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Ryan Longwell on KTIS
Girl Scouts from Troop 50699 hold their 4th Annual Box Packing Party
Troop 50699
Amanda and Megan from TRoop 50699 with the leaders Rebecca and Sue
Some of the boxes packed by Troop 50699
Just a sample of their box supplies
Our Troop number is 50699 Lead by Rebecca and Sue. Our daughters are Amanda Megan. Our Junior Girl Scouts are 4th and 5th graders. This was our 4th year of packing boxes and we all look forward to this event every year.
This year, we packed 45 boxes. We are blessed to have a local small business support our troop for this event. Hamernick’s Decorating in St. Paul has been generous enough to cover the shipping costs on each and every box, every year!
Throughout the year, the girls collect and save items for the children in need. In November, we all bring our collections to the meeting, sort them and set it all out on tables like a department store. We gather around, say a prayer and begin packing. We make sure that the boxes have a good balance of school supplies, a toothbrush & toothpaste, a washcloth & soap, toys and of course a little candy.
The girls take pride in knowing that these boxes may be the only gift a child receives in their lifetime and they pack them with smiles and good wishes! We always talk about the importance of sharing whatever we can with others. One of our Girl Scouts said, “I wish I could send my bike over to the kids. They would have so much fun with it!”
Girl Scouts from the Prior Lake/Savage area had a box packing party.
Troop 21560
The group of scouts with their boxes.
Troop 21549 had fun packing boxes.
Katie and Hannah
Girls from Troop 21594
There were about 80 scouts that gathered to pack boxes. Together they packed 159 boxes.
MN Vikings and Ronald McDonald House Kids Pack Operation Christmas shoe box gifts. 11.17.09
Ronald McDonald House kids packed Operation Christmas Child shoe box gifts along side the MN Vikings Players at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Ted Foreman, a full-circle AND SPY student, assisted in packing hope and joy.
When asked about this very special service project, Persis Elkins, Director of Family Services for Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities responded, “It truly is something special to have kids helping other kids. The children here at the Ronald McDonald House have an acute understanding of what it means to go through difficult times. Who else could put more love into this project than them?”
The Minnesota Vikings are Tyrell Johnson, Artis Hicks, Garret Mills, Colt Anderson, Jon Cooper and Kenny Onatolu.
Minnesota Vikings with the Ronald McDonald Kids
Minnesota Vikings with the Volunteers
Minnesota Viking with Operation Christmas Child Members
Minnesota Viking - Jon Cooper
Minnesota Viking - Artis Hicks
Minnesota Viking - Tyrell Johnson
Minnesota Viking - Kenny Onatolu
Minnesota Viking - Jon Cooper
Minnesota Viking - Colt Anderson
Minnesota Viking - Artis Hicks
Minnesota Viking - Garrett Mills
Listen to Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Viking, talk about Operation Christmas Child
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‘ >Ryan Longwell
Young Mahtomedi Entrepreneur Learns Valuable Lessons Through GivingShare
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 1:13pm
Amanda Sexson cannot remember a time when she did not fill Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Gifts. “For as long as I can remember, I filled boxes with my family,” Amanda said.
“Operation Christmas Child is a kids-helping-kids project,” said Sheri Wood, Twin Cities Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child. “Amanda exemplifies that phrase. I am so proud of her determination to make a difference and her ability to mobilize her community to help impact the lives of suffering children around the world.”
In 2008, Amanda decided to raise money so she could fill more shoe box gifts. She was able to raise about $300. In 2009, she enlisted the help of her friends and neighbors. A weekly yard sale with hand-crafted and home-baked items by friends, neighbors and family from bird houses, hand-knit scarves, cross-stitched ornaments, hand-crafted stationary garnered $1900 for shoe box supplies.
The young entrepreneur blanketed the neighborhood with emails and 400 flyers announcing her sales. She and friends would stay up until 1 or 2 in the morning baking cookies before a sale day. Free water and cookies was a huge marketing success to get runners and bicyclists to stop. Once they stopped for the refreshments, Amanda and her friends were happy to explain about the proceeds going for needy children around the world. And to help close the sale, Amanda offered lay-away to the runners and bicyclists and had 100% of the people return to pick up their items.
The proceeds were judiciously spent. “I kept my eye on the newspaper (for sales),” said Amanda. The savvy bargain-hunter was able to “get all the good deals” on school supplies, soap and wash cloths, toys, and hair items.
Fitness Focus in Mahtomedi hosted the packing party on Nov. 12th where Amanda and her friends packed the items they worked for and purchased. Last year, Fitness Focus packed 250 boxes but doubled that amount this year. Families and kids from Stillwater and Lake Elmo participated including Rockpoint’s Youth Group.