A CALLING TO CARE: Girl Scout delivers summer supplies to help those in need

Sophia Day, left, with ja few of the dozens of bags she filled to give to those in need; right, the contents of a typical bag (Courtesy photos)

SOMERSWORTH - Noticing that many of her peers didn't have enough to eat or might make poor choices for their leisure time, Girl Scout Sophia Day determined she would help by providing items to help out through her Care Bags With a Purpose program. Sophia, 16, of Somersworth has been recognized with the Girl Scout Gold Award for her work - the highest honor available to a Girl Scout in high school.

Sophia arranged to provide 40 care bags to middle and high school students filled with canned goods, snacks, hygiene products, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, earbuds, playing cards, and even coupons for a free ice cream or game of mini-golf, along with brochures that list local parks and their activities, a list of Somersworth Festival Association concerts and other events, and a bus schedule.

"Sophia really took this project on and ran with it," said Melanie Chase-Benoit, her project advisor. "l had worked with her in the past for End 68 Hours of Hunger, Somersworth, and at Somersworth High School with our vacation bags during the holidays. I think with that background she knew exactly what she wanted to do and how."

Chase-Benoit said her project is needed in many communities. "The recipients of those bags are so appreciative to receive them! It warms my heart to see what a difference they make for those less fortunate."

While students can receive help during the school year, that help is often not available in the summer when school is out.

"."I see firsthand that many of my peers don't have the resources they need," Sophia said. "When I was researching for my project, vacation bags full of resources seemed like a great idea. I reached out to my teachers, guidance counselors, and school nurses to ensure this project would directly benefit students in need, as they work directly with those students. They were all over my idea and I knew this would help my peers."

Noting that high schoolers can be overlooked due to their ability to get jobs to take care of their own needs, Sophia said it was important to her to provide these care bags.

"If they don't even have food at home, they don't have resources to go get a fun ice cream or to know when they're doing a fun fireworks show or certain things like that," she said.

As a member of the National Honor Society, Sophia plans to oversee the continuation of this program with their help, and arrange for it to continue for years to come.

A Girl Scout since her kindergarten days as a Daisy, Sophia has enjoyed the camporees, trips, cookie sales, and lifelong friendships formed in Girl Scouts. Through her work earning the Bronze, Silver, and now Gold Awards, she has gained valuable life skills like resilience and confidence. She recommends the experience to other Girl Scouts.

""It is a lot of work, but keep trying and use your community and your team," she said. "It will get hard, you will reconsider, but it gets better and in the end it will all be worth it."

Along with membership in the National Honor Society, Sophia is a member of the Interact Club, a student representative on the school board, plays trombone in the marching band and jazz band, is vice president of the class council, ran track, participates in aerial dance, and earns high honors in her classes.

Sophia has always wanted to be a teacher, and looks forward to going to college to double-major in education and biology. Her big goal is to be a middle school science teacher.

"I'm just very grateful for everybody who helped me get where I am today," she said. 'I'm very proud to be a Girl Scout. I have one year left!"