VISTA 13:

Bright Hope International is a relief-oriented non-profit organization located in Hoffman Estates, IL. Its mission is to help the poorest of the poor - those living on less than $1/day. Bright Hope is partnering with an organization that helps send nutritious food to children in the developing world - in this case to Pignon, Haiti - to kids who are trying to go to school but literally can't focus because they're hungry. This is a hands-on serving opportunity. Here's how it works. Bright Hope?s partner will set up a food packing assembly line at Bright Hope?s Hoffman Estates warehouse (near Barrington Road and I-90). They will have tons (literally) of ingredients on hand ? ingredients that have been chosen by leading food scientists at company?s like General Mills/Pillsbury as the best combination of nutrition, shelf-life, and taste for malnourished children in the developing world. All that is missing is labor. That?s where we come in. Anyone over the age of 8 can volunteer to work a 2-hour shift packing food Oct 22-25. You get all the training you need during that time and when it?s done, it?s done. For more information, or to sign up, visit: http://www.brighthope.org/group_resources/hope4haiti.php. Questions? Call Bright Hope directly at 224-520-6100.

I am very excited to have this opportunity to share with our local Girl Scout Troops the possibilities they can create for the women and children of A Safe Place. Currently, I am hosting a community project in which I call, Sending Peace Out Into The Community. The intention behind my project is to raise awareness of those women and children trapped in physically, verbally, or emotionally abusive relationships. I have asked The Centre Club community in Gurnee to participate in the donation of the constant need of brand new undergarments for the women and children of A Safe Place. As of today I have collected and delivered 361 items! In delivering these items this morning, experiencing the incredible gratitude I decided this project needs to continue, and needs to expand. The vision I have created is, turning this community project into an ongoing annual or bi-annual event sponsored by interested local Girl Scout Troops. A Safe Place provides shelter, transitional housing, court advocacy, referrals and comprehensive counseling programs for victims of domestic violence; women and children who have been physically, verbally, or emotionally abused. Victims are traumatized, suffer from low self-esteem and have limited access to resources; all of which keep them trapped in violent relationships. These women and children have left their homes in hopes to live a violence-free, safe and healthy life. The U.S. Surgeon General has identified domestic violence as a major health problem to women. Wife-beating results in more injuries that require medical treatment than rape, auto accidents, and muggings combined. Each year, more than 1,000 women, or about 4 women per day, are killed by their husbands or partners. 30% of females seen in ERs are there because of domestic violence. Domestic violence is indeed a serious national problem that affects not only individual victims, but the entire community as well. My efforts to share this project with the Girl Scout community is in a sense two-fold; creating awareness to these young girls of what not to allow in their lives, and offering them the opportunity to provide these women and children of A Safe Place?Dignity, Peace, and Hope! I thank you for this opportunity. Sincerely, Nancy Bernard 847-680-2455 shantiful1@aol.com

Janet Frankie, a long time volunteer with Girl Scouts would like to get the word out about the Grove. Grove National Landmark info: The Grove National Historic Landmark Address: 1421 Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview, IL 60025 Phone: (847) 299-6096 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-4:30 pm; Sat.-Sun.: 9 am-5 pm

I'm a board member of the not-for-profit Chicagoland Head Huggers. Our organization delivers chemotherapy caps crafted by volunteers to hospitals, oncology centers, and cancer treatment centers to be provided at no charge to patients. The chemotherapy caps are knitted, crocheted and/or sewn. They are quite simple to make and would be the perfect project for a beginning crafter - which made us think it might be a great way for a Girl Scout to earn a merit badge. We could provide the cap patterns, the yarn or cloth and even host lessons to teach the girls how to make them. Given many of our caps go to kids with cancer, we could even work out an arrangement so the caps the Girl Scouts make go to a local children's cancer treatment center or camp. I had many happy years as a Girl Scout and would be excited to work with the organization again. Thank you for your consideration. Kathi Brown Wright phone: 773-981-4592 www.chicagolandheadhuggers.org