Westborough Girl Scout Troop 30635 seek craft supplies for Camp To

Members of Westborough Girl Scout Troop 30635 are collecting unwanted, no longer needed craft supplies in order to help brighten the day for foster children. Photo/Submitted

Westborough ? Many of us take for granted being together with our siblings, but children in families separated by foster care may not have the opportunity to do simple activities together, such as reading bedtime stories at night, sharing meals, cheering for each other at school functions, or sharing precious holidays ? things that typical siblings get to do regularly. Yet, the sibling relationship can be one of the longest and most important relationships in life. This is especially true for children who are removed from their families because of abuse or neglect. In many instances, a brother or sister might literally be the only constant relationship in a child?s life.

Last summer, four young women from Westborough Girl Scout Troop 30635 earned their Silver Award by completing service projects to help Sibling Connections with their annual Camp To Belong. Sibling Connections reunites brothers and sisters who have been separated by their placement in foster care. They provide year-round reunion opportunities for separated siblings, including Camp To Belong, which makes it possible for siblings to create special memories while they spend an amazing week together at a camp in the Berkshires.

Scouts Margaret Baldwin and Erin McCafferty made ?friendship dolls,? each with a pocket on its tummy that said ?Camp To Belong 2011? and provided space to store a photo of a child with his or her siblings. Katherine Nikopoulos and Cassie DiSaia made keepsake boxes, which included pens and paper so that the children could write notes to each other at camp that they would then have with them when they returned to their foster homes. The boxes also contained photos of the siblings together. Each child received a doll and a keepsake box. Katherine and Cassie also prepared a variety of craft and activity kits that kids and counselors could use during the camp. Activities included materials for a trash-bag fashion show, a scavenger hunt list, and homemade play dough.

This year, the girls were asked to help again and have volunteered to collect and prep materials for a craft that the children can do together (making prayer flags or pennants) and to also help decorate for the camp-wide birthday party. To help with these projects, Troop 30635 is reaching out to the community to ask for donations of items that can be used for these activities. Needed are fabric, especially denim (used jeans are welcome) and felt, and craft supplies (fabric scraps, ribbon, yarn, buttons, fabric paint, any type of embellishment). For the party, the group is looking for streamers and sparkly stars or shapes for hanging around the room. Also needed are costumes or outfits that the kids can dress up in for special family pictures.

If you have items you?ve wanted to get rid of, this is a great way to put those items to good use. Collection boxes can be found in the Westborough Public Library, 55 West Main St., at the top of the stairwell near the copy machine and on the 2nd floor of the Forbes Municipal Building, 45 West Main St., outside the Youth and Family Services office (Room 21). Arrangements can also be made to have the items picked up.

For more information or to arrange a pick-up, ?contact Julie Baldwin at 508-366-9463 or juliebaldwin@verizon.net.

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Short URL: http://www.communityadvocate.com/?p=24729

Source: http://www.communityadvocate.com/2012/07/25/clean-out-your-craft-closet-and-help-support-camp-for-foster-children/

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